We are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of a special little boy & his family.

Reagan and Cole proudly welcomed Cohen Bear on July 9th, 2025 surrounded by their loving support system. He is currently in the NICU, as he was diagnosed with a few medical issues; one specifically that will require heart surgery at MUSC in around 6-8 weeks to repair DORV as well as holes in his heart.

What is DORV (Double Outlet Right Ventricle)?

DORV is a heart condition that a baby is born with (a congenital heart defect). It means that both of the large blood vessels that are supposed to carry blood out of the heart — the aorta and the pulmonary artery — come out of the right side of the heart (the right ventricle), instead of one from each side.

Normally:

* The right ventricle sends blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery (to get oxygen).

* The left ventricle sends oxygen-rich blood to the body through the aorta.

In DORV:

* Both the aorta and pulmonary artery come out of the right ventricle, so the left ventricle doesn’t have a direct way to pump blood out.

* There’s usually a hole between the two bottom chambers of the heart (called a VSD – ventricular septal defect) that allows blood to pass between them.

Why is this a problem?

Because the blood that should go to the body (full of oxygen) and the blood that should go to the lungs (low in oxygen) can get mixed together, which can mean less oxygen reaches the baby’s body.

Holes in heart:

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

* VSD = a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

* ASD = a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria).

Other heart defects:

One persistent fetal vessel (PDA), and an unusual vein arrangement (bilateral SVC).

Cohen was also diagnosed in utero with an absent CSP. The Cavum Septum Pellucidum (CSP) is a small, fluid-filled space in the middle of the brain.

Basically, his little brain is missing this small space in the middle. Sometimes that’s okay, but sometimes it can also mean that there’s a need to watch for vision or hormone issues, or look for other brain differences as he grows.

Surgery at MUSC-

Baby Cohen will be undergoing surgery to repair these issues of his heart in 6-8 weeks. While the confirmation of this important surgery is known, the exact details surrounding the operation, timeline, duration of time being down there, etc are still being worked out as he continues to be monitored by his cardiologist and care team.

What we do know for sure is that Cohen Bear’s family is going to need financial support during this time.

Jobs will be put on pause with loss of income to factor in, and the added expenses of being far away from home in Charleston —such as gas, lodging, meals, and other travel costs— will quickly add up.

Even with their deep faith and trust in the Lord, the journey ahead will be a stressful season. Our hope is to lift a large chunk of that burden so their hearts and minds can stay focused where they’re needed most—on Cohen Bear and his surgery.

No donation is too small, however, if you are unable to donate monetary support-your prayers are equally appreciated.

We sincerely thank you for helping support Cohen and his crew!