What started out as a chilly Sunday, December 14, 2014 morning had warmed up into a fun filled day for six-year old Litha, his little sister Lulu, and their parents. A family trip to celebrate Lulu’s upcoming fourth birthday across the river in New York City was joyously capped off with a stop at the Lego Store. The happy day of laughter, love and pure joy seemed to more than make up for the expense and length of the journey, especially when Litha thanked his mom for letting him buy Legos “even though it wasn’t his birthday.”
Yet 15 minutes into the bus ride home, things began to change. At first, Litha just wanted to rest and lay his head on his dad's arm. But before they knew it, he was vomiting, moaning and stretching out as if he was having cramps on his left leg and arm. Rushed to the hospital, emergency surgery was eventually required to remove all the fluid and blood that a CT scan had revealed in Litha's brain. Afterwards, Litha was diagnosed as having
arteriovenous malformation (
AVM), an abnormal connection between arteries and veins that bypasses the capillary system.
Since then, Litha has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Newark Beth Israel Children's Hospital fighting for his life. While his condition has somewhat stabilized over the last seven weeks, he is now disabled and requires at least 6 months of inpatient rehabilitation .
In the meantime, the medical bills are piling up, as the family consults with neurologists as to how to treat the
neurological storming
that happens after such brain trauma. Doctors are recommending that Litha be moved to a more specialized facility which may either The Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick NJ. or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
We, as family friends, are reaching out to anyone who can donate so that Litha’s family has the resources to pay for the expenses that insurance does not cover, as well as provide for the medical attention he desperately needs to be able to recover. Even if you can’t do much or anything at all, please consider sharing this page with any friends and family who may be able to give something.
And please keep Litha, Lulu and their entire family in your positive thoughts and prayers.
Yet 15 minutes into the bus ride home, things began to change. At first, Litha just wanted to rest and lay his head on his dad's arm. But before they knew it, he was vomiting, moaning and stretching out as if he was having cramps on his left leg and arm. Rushed to the hospital, emergency surgery was eventually required to remove all the fluid and blood that a CT scan had revealed in Litha's brain. Afterwards, Litha was diagnosed as having
arteriovenous malformation (
AVM), an abnormal connection between arteries and veins that bypasses the capillary system.
Since then, Litha has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Newark Beth Israel Children's Hospital fighting for his life. While his condition has somewhat stabilized over the last seven weeks, he is now disabled and requires at least 6 months of inpatient rehabilitation .
In the meantime, the medical bills are piling up, as the family consults with neurologists as to how to treat the
neurological storming
that happens after such brain trauma. Doctors are recommending that Litha be moved to a more specialized facility which may either The Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick NJ. or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
We, as family friends, are reaching out to anyone who can donate so that Litha’s family has the resources to pay for the expenses that insurance does not cover, as well as provide for the medical attention he desperately needs to be able to recover. Even if you can’t do much or anything at all, please consider sharing this page with any friends and family who may be able to give something.
And please keep Litha, Lulu and their entire family in your positive thoughts and prayers.
Organisator en begunstigde
Sibongile De Jonge
Begunstigde