Support for Harper, Brittany, and Austin Gray
Donation protected
Sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is an extremely rare congenital developmental disorder characterized by partial or complete fusion of the legs. This condition affects around 1 in 100,000 newborns and causes malformations in various organ systems. Most babies with sirenomelia are stillborn or live only a day or two after birth.
Most people think such a rare condition would never affect them personally. But midway through their pregnancy with their first child, Brittany and Austin Gray received the devastating news that their daughter had sirenomelia. Doctors were unable to confirm the presence of kidneys on an ultrasound and believed the baby may not be able to survive. On May 8, 2021, Harper Gabriella Gray was born with only one kidney, abnormalities of the digestive and urinary systems, and fusion of her legs by a weblike membrane down to her ankles. Despite her medical challenges, she is strong, stable, and already defying the odds of surviving her rare condition.
Shortly after birth, Harper was transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. She underwent two surgeries during her first few weeks and was finally cleared to go home after over a month at Riley. She continues to make steady daily progress including gaining weight, feeding more on her own, and showing signs of improving kidney function. Given the rarity of sirenomelia, much is unknown about Harper’s future, but she will no doubt require additional surgeries and specialized medical care to give her the best life possible.
As Austin’s coworkers at Athletico Physical Therapy in Bloomington, Indiana, where he works as an occupational therapist, we started this fundraiser to assist him and his family with the expenses associated with having a newborn with special needs. Austin and Brittany have both taken extended leave from work to care for their daughter, and are incurring costs ranging from transportation and meals (they spent Harper’s first month traveling back and forth to the hospital from an apartment in Carmel) to large medical bills (a Riley NICU stay costs around $3,000-5,000 per day). By launching this fundraiser, we hope to relieve even the slightest amount of stress from their situation. No donation is too small: $2-3 would cover a gallon of gas to drive to the hospital, and $15-20 would cover a meal on the road. Austin and Brittany plan to donate any excess funds to Riley to support families and children in need.
Please help Harper and her family along this journey by supporting the Grays financially and by sharing Harper’s story. Together we can change the lives of a wonderful, giving couple and their precious daughter.
Most people think such a rare condition would never affect them personally. But midway through their pregnancy with their first child, Brittany and Austin Gray received the devastating news that their daughter had sirenomelia. Doctors were unable to confirm the presence of kidneys on an ultrasound and believed the baby may not be able to survive. On May 8, 2021, Harper Gabriella Gray was born with only one kidney, abnormalities of the digestive and urinary systems, and fusion of her legs by a weblike membrane down to her ankles. Despite her medical challenges, she is strong, stable, and already defying the odds of surviving her rare condition.
Shortly after birth, Harper was transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. She underwent two surgeries during her first few weeks and was finally cleared to go home after over a month at Riley. She continues to make steady daily progress including gaining weight, feeding more on her own, and showing signs of improving kidney function. Given the rarity of sirenomelia, much is unknown about Harper’s future, but she will no doubt require additional surgeries and specialized medical care to give her the best life possible.
As Austin’s coworkers at Athletico Physical Therapy in Bloomington, Indiana, where he works as an occupational therapist, we started this fundraiser to assist him and his family with the expenses associated with having a newborn with special needs. Austin and Brittany have both taken extended leave from work to care for their daughter, and are incurring costs ranging from transportation and meals (they spent Harper’s first month traveling back and forth to the hospital from an apartment in Carmel) to large medical bills (a Riley NICU stay costs around $3,000-5,000 per day). By launching this fundraiser, we hope to relieve even the slightest amount of stress from their situation. No donation is too small: $2-3 would cover a gallon of gas to drive to the hospital, and $15-20 would cover a meal on the road. Austin and Brittany plan to donate any excess funds to Riley to support families and children in need.
Please help Harper and her family along this journey by supporting the Grays financially and by sharing Harper’s story. Together we can change the lives of a wonderful, giving couple and their precious daughter.
Organizer and beneficiary
Athletico Bloomington East
Organizer
Bloomington, IN
Austin Gray
Beneficiary