Baby Boy Schuh's Spina Bifida Medical Expenses
Donation protected
Our sister and brother-in-law, Mallory and Brad, learned at 18 weeks of pregnancy, that their son has Spina Bifida.
Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of neural tube defect (NTD). Spina bifida can happen anywhere along the spine if the neural tube does not close all the way. When the neural tube doesn’t close all the way, the backbone that protects the spinal cord doesn’t form and close as it should. This often results in damage to the spinal cord and nerves. The chances of this occurring is 1 in 1,000 pregnancies. Although Spina Bifida cannot be cured, science has come a very long way with treatment options even before the baby is born!
Mallory and Brad leave for the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital in Aurora, CO on June 15 for consultations. If Mallory and Baby qualify, in-utero surgery is scheduled for June 22. This surgery will ensure their son has the best chance after birth to have full mobility in his lower extremities and avoid needing a drainage shunt placed in his brain.
If everything goes smoothly, Mallory will return to Kansas after a three week stay in Colorado and follow-up care will transfer to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. Children’s Mercy was not able to perform the surgery within the needed time frame but they are able to care for her once she is back in Kansas. She hopes to deliver their son at Children’s Mercy in mid to late September.
Many have reached out to ask how they can help, and prayers definitely top the list - prayers for a miracle, prayers for the best possible outcome for their son and prayers for Mallory and daughter Phoebe as they navigate bed rest with being a busy toddler. Although Mallory and Brad have reliable insurance coverage, there will be many additional surgery and travel expenses, along with Mallory needing to reduce hours at work. There will be lots of travel to Colorado and Kansas City in order for Brad, Mallory and Phoebe to spend as much time together as possible.
At this time, monetary donations may be:
* Donated right here on Go Fund Me!
* Sent to sister Jill’s venmo: @shehi4, to be placed in a special account for Brad, Mallory and Baby at Topeka Police Credit Union
* Mailed to or dropped off at the Topeka Police Credit Union at the Topeka Police Department. Checks should be made out to Brad Schuh. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope marked "Brad Schuh." Their address is 320 S. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603.
***Hopefully soon to a Facebook Fundraiser Page - we keep having glitches getting it to publish. We will keep you posted!
Donations will be used to support the family at the Fetal Care Center in Colorado, care at Children's Mercy, and/or during the high risk delivery in September.
Thank you so much for your support. ❤️
Links to follow along their journey.
A CaringBridge Site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyboyschuh
Fundraising team (2)
Jill Shehi Chapman
Organizer
Topeka, KS
Jennifer Thomsen
Team member