Hi, I'm Nicki and I'm organizing this GoFundMe on behalf of my sister, Sara, and nephew, Kobe.

On Tuesday (the 24th of June), Kobe was taken to the doctor and then sent on to MU Children's ER because of suspected orbital cellulitis (infection of the tissue surrounding his eye). That evening, MU started him on IV antibiotics and attempted to relieve the pressure in his eye from the extensive swelling. They eventually determined that Kobe needed to be flown to St. Louis Children's for a higher level of care. After arriving in the early hours of Wednesday, he had a 3-4 hour surgery to drain the infection. During this surgery, they discovered his sinus was fractured (he has yet to be tested for the genetic disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta [Type IV], which runs in the family and predisposes him to brittle, easy-to-fracture bones). As of today (Friday), the infection is spreading to his other eye, and he has a sizeable hospital stay ahead of him, possibly more surgeries, and unknown future vision issues in the originally affected eye.

These funds will go towards keeping Sara in the hospital with Kobe (food, transportation [her car is still several hours away], personal hygiene), bracing for the financial possibility of his life-flight being denied, replacing Sara's lost wages, and hopefully enabling Kobe to heal comfortably.

Your love, well wishes, and prayers for Kobe and his family are most appreciated!