Helping Baby Bendzick
Donation protected
Family and Friends of Matt, Sam and Baby Bendzick,
When Matt and Sam went to the OB for their 20 week ultrasound on May 8th at 212 medical center they learned they were having a baby girl! They were filled with excitement but also received some news they were not expecting. The doctors told them after reviewing the ultrasound that they saw some abnormalities on the ultrasound but couldn’t provide much information and referred them to a specialist. Two days later on May 10th they found themselves at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis where they did a level 2 ultrasound. The doctors were able to come to the diagnoses of a neural tube defect called Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is not genetic and was not cause by anything in their control. It’s just something that happens during the first few weeks of development and affects 1 in 3,000. Doctors do not know what causes it yet.
What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is where a spot on the baby’s vertebra does not develop correctly and did not close up properly leaving small sac on the babies back. This leaves nerve endings open to the amniotic fluid which can damages them. Spina Bifida prognosis is very broad from baby to baby depending on many factors and they type of defect the baby has.
Babies with Spina Bifida may have some development issues in their feet and legs depending on which area of the spine is affected. The other major piece is hind brain herniation which is caused by what’s happening in her lower spine. It’s basically pulling her brain and spinal cord downward. This can cause some developmental delays mentally. Bowel and bladder control is often another complication that comes with this.
There is good news though!!!!
Decision to do fetal surgery
After speaking with the team at Children’s hospital, Matt and Sam decided to move forward with a fairly new surgery where doctors actually fix the lesion on the babies back while Sam is still pregnant! Doing the surgery while Sam is still pregnant allows for the baby to heal inside of Sam and the doctors are confident it will reverse the hind brain herniation that is going on.The surgery will close the lesion stopping any further damage to the nerves.
It’s a miracle they can even perform a surgery like this but there is an incredible team of doctors at Children’s that specialize in this surgery. They are the best at what they do. This surgery can only be performed at 4 places in the country and they were lucky enough to have this team of doctors in their backyard at Children’s/Abbott.
Sam and baby had surgery on June 4th. Surgery was a huge success! The doctors made a C section cut on Sam, another incision on her uterus to get to the baby. They fixed the baby’s lower back and now baby is healing while Sam finishes her pregnancy.
Everything went extremely well and mom and baby are doing great. Sam stayed in the hospital for 4 days post-surgery and now she is on bed rest at home for the remainder of her pregnancy. Doctors would like to deliver the baby at the end of August.
Matt and Sam and all of the doctors are extremely optimistic that Baby Bendzick will do excellent developmentally and hopefully live a normal life. So far they have been blessed with amazing doctors who have quickly made them feel taken care of and family who has been praying and sending positive thoughts their way.
As a friend of 10+ years of the Bendzick family I can without a doubt say that they are some of the most generous people out there. Matt and Sam go out of their way to help people when they can. Having your first child is stressful enough without having to encounter a medical issue such as this! They have dealt with every step of this process so far with grace, gratitude and a positive attitude!
They need your support!
Obviously this situation was not planned and Matt and Sam are paying a lot of extra medical bills they were not anticipating. On top of this, Sam cannot work for the remainder of her pregnancy so they will be down to one income until December 1st when Sam can go back to work.
We wanted to set this Go Fund Me page up to help support their financial needs so they can focus on healing and recovering and getting ready for their baby girl! They already feel blessed with all of the kind words and prayers that have gotten them through this so far. The financial support will take one more thing off their mind.
Matt and Sam appreciate all of your support and prayers! They continue to move forward with a very positive and optimistic attitude and can’t wait to welcome their baby girl into the world in August!
There are a few links below to learn more about Spina Bifida in general and the fetal surgery. It’s incredible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRMcxRHr7Go
https://www.childrensmn.org/services/care-specialties-departments/fetal-medicine/conditions-and-services/spina-bifida/
Thank you,
Beau and Kourtney Hoium
Lifelong Friends of Matt and Sam
When Matt and Sam went to the OB for their 20 week ultrasound on May 8th at 212 medical center they learned they were having a baby girl! They were filled with excitement but also received some news they were not expecting. The doctors told them after reviewing the ultrasound that they saw some abnormalities on the ultrasound but couldn’t provide much information and referred them to a specialist. Two days later on May 10th they found themselves at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis where they did a level 2 ultrasound. The doctors were able to come to the diagnoses of a neural tube defect called Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is not genetic and was not cause by anything in their control. It’s just something that happens during the first few weeks of development and affects 1 in 3,000. Doctors do not know what causes it yet.
What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is where a spot on the baby’s vertebra does not develop correctly and did not close up properly leaving small sac on the babies back. This leaves nerve endings open to the amniotic fluid which can damages them. Spina Bifida prognosis is very broad from baby to baby depending on many factors and they type of defect the baby has.
Babies with Spina Bifida may have some development issues in their feet and legs depending on which area of the spine is affected. The other major piece is hind brain herniation which is caused by what’s happening in her lower spine. It’s basically pulling her brain and spinal cord downward. This can cause some developmental delays mentally. Bowel and bladder control is often another complication that comes with this.
There is good news though!!!!
Decision to do fetal surgery
After speaking with the team at Children’s hospital, Matt and Sam decided to move forward with a fairly new surgery where doctors actually fix the lesion on the babies back while Sam is still pregnant! Doing the surgery while Sam is still pregnant allows for the baby to heal inside of Sam and the doctors are confident it will reverse the hind brain herniation that is going on.The surgery will close the lesion stopping any further damage to the nerves.
It’s a miracle they can even perform a surgery like this but there is an incredible team of doctors at Children’s that specialize in this surgery. They are the best at what they do. This surgery can only be performed at 4 places in the country and they were lucky enough to have this team of doctors in their backyard at Children’s/Abbott.
Sam and baby had surgery on June 4th. Surgery was a huge success! The doctors made a C section cut on Sam, another incision on her uterus to get to the baby. They fixed the baby’s lower back and now baby is healing while Sam finishes her pregnancy.
Everything went extremely well and mom and baby are doing great. Sam stayed in the hospital for 4 days post-surgery and now she is on bed rest at home for the remainder of her pregnancy. Doctors would like to deliver the baby at the end of August.
Matt and Sam and all of the doctors are extremely optimistic that Baby Bendzick will do excellent developmentally and hopefully live a normal life. So far they have been blessed with amazing doctors who have quickly made them feel taken care of and family who has been praying and sending positive thoughts their way.
As a friend of 10+ years of the Bendzick family I can without a doubt say that they are some of the most generous people out there. Matt and Sam go out of their way to help people when they can. Having your first child is stressful enough without having to encounter a medical issue such as this! They have dealt with every step of this process so far with grace, gratitude and a positive attitude!
They need your support!
Obviously this situation was not planned and Matt and Sam are paying a lot of extra medical bills they were not anticipating. On top of this, Sam cannot work for the remainder of her pregnancy so they will be down to one income until December 1st when Sam can go back to work.
We wanted to set this Go Fund Me page up to help support their financial needs so they can focus on healing and recovering and getting ready for their baby girl! They already feel blessed with all of the kind words and prayers that have gotten them through this so far. The financial support will take one more thing off their mind.
Matt and Sam appreciate all of your support and prayers! They continue to move forward with a very positive and optimistic attitude and can’t wait to welcome their baby girl into the world in August!
There are a few links below to learn more about Spina Bifida in general and the fetal surgery. It’s incredible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRMcxRHr7Go
https://www.childrensmn.org/services/care-specialties-departments/fetal-medicine/conditions-and-services/spina-bifida/
Thank you,
Beau and Kourtney Hoium
Lifelong Friends of Matt and Sam
Organizer and beneficiary
Beau and Kourtney Hoium
Organizer
Chaska, MN
Matthew Bendzick
Beneficiary