Adeline’s Medical Bills

After battling hyperemesis gravidarum & preeclampsia in pregnancy, our sweet Adeline was born five weeks prematurely at 5lbs 2oz. Like most born at that time, she did eight days in the Avera McKennan NICU learning how to eat. She was placed on neosure formula to help her grow. Roughly 7 weeks later, her daddy and I noticed every time she would eat, she would scream as if she were in pain and  would then projectile vomit. That lead us to being admitted back to Avera McKennan for failure to thrive. She did a 6 day stay where they diagnosed with her MSPI (milk soy protein intolerance) and GERD (severe acid reflux requiring medication. She was placed on the top elemental formula called elecare to be taken through a feeding tube. At this point in our journey, we thought her NICU stay and hospitalization, formula and feeding tube were covered under insurance. It was not.


Fast forward the next few months, we were in and out of doctor’s visits. Starting in December is when new illnesses started to pop up. In 3 months time, Adeline had 5 double ear infections. We knew the surgery to her tubes placed was coming. While in and out of seeing her pediatrician, her pediatric gastroenterologist; we were also referred to start seeing a pediatric pulmonologist to figure out why her breathing was hoarse and why she would cough until she choked. She was diagnosed with chronic bronchiolitis (often referred to as reactive airway disease) this came with more medicine and nebulizer treatments. After having her tubes placed, we thought she was in the clear. She was having frequent drainage, running/stuffy nose, along with the coughing until she turned purple.

At her 3 month follow up - it was discovered she needs her adenoids removed. (She was too young to have them removed at time of tubes). While her ENT was examining her, he discovered the tissue inside of her nose was so swollen he couldn’t see inside. He also needs to make incisions inside of her nose to shave it down so she can breathe. Along with that, she is being monitored for congenital hypothyroidism- that comes with a daily medication and visits to a pediatric endocrinologist. 


If you haven’t caught all of that - we are currently trying to determine how to pay for $4400 NICU bill (one day was considered not medically necessary by insurance so they refuse to cover it). $1000 ER bill from Addie not being able to breathe; $700 in clinic visits alone; $1600 for tubes; and now the cost of her adenoid removal which will be around $2000 out of pocket. This on top of bills we have already paid that were deemed “not medically necessary” by insurance; I.e formula, feeding tubes and hospital stays. We have tried financial assistance but we’re denied, and payment plans with the hospital is going to be too expensive to afford without us not being able to pay our other bills to live. We are grateful in the care she has received but at this time, we are asking for help to stop from drowning. Thank you for reading our story. God bless.

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