Aid Mikey's Recovery from Critical Illness

Hello everyone.

I am here to introduce you to Mikey.

Those of you reading this from the Hawley- Rollag area of Minnesota will very likely know the Schenck name. Ryan Schenck grew up in rural Hawley. Ryan and Liz Johnston are Daddy and Mommy to Mikey. Liz is from Fargo and teaches first grade there. Their little guy, Mikey, has taken very seriously ill and is experiencing multiple, significant complications.

Because of a job change for Ryan, and for being on unpaid leave for Liz, medical expenses and daily living costs are an increasingly growing concern. At this time Mikey just needs his family at his side and prayers for healing. I know Ryan and Liz will be greatly appreciative of any supports we can extend them that will allow them to be with Mikey right now.

From Ryan:

Our little guy Mikey was born on April 2, 2021, and now, before he's even turned 4 years old, he’s fighting a serious medical battle. On February 28, 2025, his mom, Liz, took him to the hospital because of severe stomach pain. The doctors ran some limited tests, diagnosed him with RSV, and sent him home. But his pain only got worse.

On March 2, Liz took him back, insisting something more was wrong. The same ER doctor, initially dismissive, finally ran more tests—and that’s when they discovered Mikey's appendix had ruptured. Worse, his potassium levels were so dangerously low that he was at risk of cardiac arrest.

Due to his RSV, surgery to remove the appendix was determined to be too risky. Instead, they started treatment with IV fluids and potassium, but days later, a large, serious abscess infection was found in Mikey's abdomen, requiring emergency surgery to drain it. Mikey now has IV lines, a drainage tube in his stomach, and has endured countless painful procedures as his tiny veins have collapsed from all the needle sticks.

Even after all this, Mikey just wasn’t improving. We made the difficult decision to transfer Mikey to another hospital better equipped to handle his threatening condition. They placed a PICC line and an NG tube to help Mikey's body heal.

Just when we thought he was turning a corner, Mikey's fever again spiked to 102°F. The next CT scan revealed the presence of a second abscess under his gallbladder—too dangerously located to perform surgery to drain the infection. Now, we can only hope that antibiotics will be enough to carry him through. We wait.

Liz and I have been by his side every day. She is a first-grade teacher in Fargo and is now on unpaid FMLA. For me, this timing lands as I am transitioning to a new job but right now, my priority is being here for my son and I am not sure how this will impact that job.

I never ask for help, but right now, we truly need it. Any donation, no matter how small, will help us with medical expenses, bills, and basic needs while we get through this. If you can’t donate, we understand and are grateful for your sharing our story. All of this means the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

With gratitude,

Ryan Schenck and Liz Johnston