Help for the Spradling family.
We set this up on behalf of our sister, Emily... that's her in the picture, along with her husband, James. 
That smiling little boy is their first child, Silas, who couldn’t wait to meet his little brother--the one also pictured here, but still growing in Emily’s belly. When Emily told our family she was expecting another son, we were all delighted. A new baby always brings so much joy and excitement, but little did we know at the time, this new baby would impact our lives more than we could imagine. He would be very special, indeed. This is Abram's story.
Abram Gregory Spradling was born a healthy 7 pounds 1 oz on October 20, 2016. He had dark eyes and a full head of fluffy dark hair. His hair quickly became his trademark, although every inch of him was cute as could be. Just hours after his birth, his mommy knew something wasn’t quite right. He was unable to eat, unable to keep his body warm on his own, and seemed to be having some breathing issues. His doctors told us it was most likely due to infection and that he would have to spend a few days in the NICU, but we were not too worried; however, once the infection was gone, the problems only got worse. Eventually on November 3rd, the doctors here in Charleston, West Virginia, decided that Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio might be better equipped to figure out what was causing his increasingly complicated symptoms. His kidneys functioned poorly, he was still having trouble eating, and was beginning to stop breathing. We were so scared--what could be wrong with our sweet baby?
Doctors at Nationwide were puzzled by his many and varied symptoms and weeks went by with test after test. Finally, after all the tests ruled out all other possibilities, it was discovered that Abram suffered from an extremely rare genetic mitochondrial disorder called primary CoQ10 deficiency...a devastating diagnosis. His disorder caused the mitochondria of his body’s cells to malfunction which, in his case, caused severe complications with most of his major organs. This disease is very rare and there is limited research available. Abram’s case proved especially difficult because he was so young, just weeks old. Soon after arriving at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Abram began having seizures, also a symptom of this devastating disease. Emily never left his side and did all she could to make sure he was getting the best care available. James stayed home to care for Silas, and to maintain their house. Other family members (NeNe, Papaw, aunts, and uncles) helped as needed. We prayed diligently that the wonderful staff at Nationwide could figure out a way to at least slow down the progression of his disorder as we were told from the beginning that there was no cure. Finally, it seemed our prayers were answered—the treatment of administering CoQ10 supplementation was working! All of his body systems improved and his seizures, with additional medications, were under control. Emily hoped so badly that they would be able to spend Christmas at home, and her wish came true. A few days before the holidays, our Abey baby went home. Hospice nurses helped set up the needed equipment for his care. Silas couldn’t wait to open presents with his baby brother, whom he lovingly referred to as "my baby".
The New Year came and went, and Abram’s condition continued to seem stable with his new treatment and medications. We had renewed hope that Abram could beat the odds. But, on January 15th, just as we began to get settled into our new normal, Emily noticed Abram’s breathing was labored. She and James rushed him to the hospital, and he was almost gone. The doctors saved him, but they still scrambled to figure out what had caused his rapid deterioration. Another infection? A virus? They did more tests, but nothing could be blamed but his disease. Through it all, Emily never left the hospital once again, and James only left when he had to. God had other plans for our sweet boy, and it was discovered that issues from the mitochondrial disorder had progressed to his lungs and respiratory system. Abram’s tiny body could no longer fight the devastating effects of this disease. But, he kept fighting until the very end.
On February 1, 2017, Abram left us here on earth to be with his Heavenly Father in his Eternal Home. He went peacefully in the arms of his mother, with daddy right beside them both. We take comfort in knowing that Abram's body is now perfect and whole, and he is in the loving embrace of our Savior. Even though Abram is still in our hearts, we miss our precious boy terribly. On top of this unimaginable burden, Emily and James are now left with huge medical bills and funeral expenses, so they could use your help.
In addition to these immediate financial needs, Emily and James have decided they both still hold on to the dream of growing their family, but since mitochondrial disorders are genetic, their only option is invitro fertilization (IVF) with genetic testing. This process is also incredibly expensive (around $25,000).
Abram never gave up. Though his life was far too short, he taught us so much. We must not let our sadness overcome the joy of the memories he left us. He lived every moment he could, so we must continue to live life to the fullest. We must live our lives to honor him. And so, lastly, as a special gift to them, we would also like to fund a trip to Disney World to remind our sister and her family that joy will return to their lives and to give them, especially little Silas, something to look forward to. Mommy and daddy had to be away from him so much in these past three months, and we know he would enjoy some special fun--just the three of them.
I ask that you find it in your hearts to give to this incredibly deserving young family. If you feel led to donate, please know that it will be greatly appreciated. They have been through so much, and through it all showed so much strength and an incredible faith. We just don’t want them to worry about anything else. Thank you so much. 