Healing our little Heidi

After an appointment with a Cardiologist on March 13, 2014 to check on a recently discovered heart murmur, our daughter Heidi was hospitalized with what has turned out to be a very rare condition that includes extremely high blood pressure caused by a Renal artery stenosis, coarctation of the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric arteries, and a non functioning right kidney. Essentially, those three arteries have severe narrowings causing low blood profusion to her major organs and severely high blood pressures which are putting stress on her heart. We were flown by medical transport from our home state of Oregon to The University of Michigan in order to have one of the best Nephrology and Vascular teams in the country perform a Renal revascularization surgery on Heidi. Initially, the team said they want her to be managed with medications until she's three years old in order to allow her to grow and be more fit for the surgery due to the high risks of vascular surgery on an infant. Unfortunately, due to her extremely rare anatomy, they cannot put the surgery off any longer. After more than five weeks in two different hospitals they have not been able to get the blood pressures, fluid levels and proper profusion to acceptable & sustainable levels. We are now facing an incredibly risky vascular surgery and extensive recovery time on our 9 month old daughter in the next couple of weeks.
Since March 13th, we have spent weeks away from our two year old son who has been staying with his grandparents in California for the last several weeks. Having our family separated in different states has been incredibly painful and difficult. We know that we are in the best place possible for Heidi though and we will do whatever it takes to give her a fighting chance at life. Our hope is that we will be together as a complete family again someday soon.
Funds raised through this site will be applied solely to our medical expenses from both hospitals, the numerous Doctors, Surgeons and other specialists at each location, the life flight medical transport from Oregon to Michigan, medications, specialized medical equipment for our home health care, physical therapy, occupational therapy after recovery, commercial flights to and from Oregon to Michigan (we're expecting to have the same surgery done again within a year, then again before she's ten), loss of income due to hospitalization (Heidi's dad has had to take unpaid time off in order to be in Michigan), flights for getting our son to California so he can be with family while we are separated and nourishment while we are away for home.
We thank you for your support, words of encouragement and prayers.
The Van Nattas