Baby Ruby's Journey
Donation protected
Before Ruby was born doctors determined that she had a serious heart defect. During the second half of the pregnancy, Briana and Terry were given multiple possible outcomes to expect once she was born. At first doctors said she may need simple surgery, a few months after she was born, but as the pregnancy progressed they expressed that her condition may be more serious. The doctors felt she may need open heart surgery a week after she’s born, several other heart surgeries within the following year, and a possible transplant after that.
By the grace of God, Ruby Faith arrived on August 6th, 2020 and the cardiac surgeon determined there is a size difference between the right and left ventricle, but it is less pronounced than they originally thought it was. They put Ruby on a medication to keep her aorta open, so they could monitor the blood flow. Once they determined there was good blood flow with the medication, they had to decrease it so they could get a better idea of how the aorta would function without the meds. Once she was completely taken off the medication and they determined her heart would be able to tolerate it, she was finally able to eat. Ruby was finally able to go home and meet her three big sisters on August 14, 2020. The doctors conveyed she will still need surgery to repair the chambers of her heart, but it is a far more common surgery than some of the other surgeries that were previously discussed.
In September, Ruby began been throwing up intermittently after eating. After a visit with the pediatric cardiologist, it was decided Ruby needed an x-ray of her lungs to check for fluid buildup. The x-ray did show fluid buildup in her lungs, so Ruby was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital since they are better equipped to deal with the situation than Lawnwood. She had a feeding tube put in and the surgeon considered going ahead with the surgery to close the holes in her heart, but ultimately decided it would be best to wait until until she was a little bigger. After almost 3 weeks in the hospital, she was finally able to return home but was sent home with the feeding tube.
Unfortunately, Ruby is back in the hospital at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. She was admitted November 18th, after a mishap with her feeding tube. What should have been a fairly simple procedure turned into something a bit more serious when they noticed her oxygen concentrations were at 82%, she had fever, she was lethargic, and breathing very rapidly. She has been admitted into the PICU while they try to figure out what’s going on. She’s had a fever on and off over the last couple days, with the highest temperature being 102.8. Her tests have come back showing no sign of infection and the doctors don’t know what is causing her recurring fevers. The doctors have determined that Ruby will need to stay at the hospital until her heart surgery on December 7th.
Ruby is only three months old and the Fuqua family has been through so much with this little lady already. The goal of this GoFundMe is to help relieve some of the stress as Briana’s maternity leave ended in October, and she will now be missing a significant amount of work until Ruby is discharged from the hospital after she has her heart surgery. She and Terry will be traveling back and forth from their home in Vero to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.
Please keep Ruby in your prayers!
By the grace of God, Ruby Faith arrived on August 6th, 2020 and the cardiac surgeon determined there is a size difference between the right and left ventricle, but it is less pronounced than they originally thought it was. They put Ruby on a medication to keep her aorta open, so they could monitor the blood flow. Once they determined there was good blood flow with the medication, they had to decrease it so they could get a better idea of how the aorta would function without the meds. Once she was completely taken off the medication and they determined her heart would be able to tolerate it, she was finally able to eat. Ruby was finally able to go home and meet her three big sisters on August 14, 2020. The doctors conveyed she will still need surgery to repair the chambers of her heart, but it is a far more common surgery than some of the other surgeries that were previously discussed.
In September, Ruby began been throwing up intermittently after eating. After a visit with the pediatric cardiologist, it was decided Ruby needed an x-ray of her lungs to check for fluid buildup. The x-ray did show fluid buildup in her lungs, so Ruby was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital since they are better equipped to deal with the situation than Lawnwood. She had a feeding tube put in and the surgeon considered going ahead with the surgery to close the holes in her heart, but ultimately decided it would be best to wait until until she was a little bigger. After almost 3 weeks in the hospital, she was finally able to return home but was sent home with the feeding tube.
Unfortunately, Ruby is back in the hospital at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. She was admitted November 18th, after a mishap with her feeding tube. What should have been a fairly simple procedure turned into something a bit more serious when they noticed her oxygen concentrations were at 82%, she had fever, she was lethargic, and breathing very rapidly. She has been admitted into the PICU while they try to figure out what’s going on. She’s had a fever on and off over the last couple days, with the highest temperature being 102.8. Her tests have come back showing no sign of infection and the doctors don’t know what is causing her recurring fevers. The doctors have determined that Ruby will need to stay at the hospital until her heart surgery on December 7th.
Ruby is only three months old and the Fuqua family has been through so much with this little lady already. The goal of this GoFundMe is to help relieve some of the stress as Briana’s maternity leave ended in October, and she will now be missing a significant amount of work until Ruby is discharged from the hospital after she has her heart surgery. She and Terry will be traveling back and forth from their home in Vero to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.
Please keep Ruby in your prayers!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lauren Cool
Organizer
Briana Fuqua
Beneficiary