Baby Kellin’s Heart Surgery Recovery

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! My name is Brittany and I am starting this page for two of my oldest and dearest friends, Alison and Ed. If you know them, if you don’t, if you’re just getting more details on their journey, or if you are just wanting to help someone over the holidays…please see their story with their newborn son below and if you are able, donate to help.

 

Kellin Quinn made it safely into the world on Monday November 29, 2021, 4 days after Thanksgiving. He was born with a heart defect, a potentially compromised immune system, and DiGeorge syndrome. Since his birth day, he has started out in the NICU for 13 days, then had a very rough transition to a new floor with new nurses. He has been on constant oxygen, and has had numerous tubes to get him his proper nutrients and medications. Kellin has had to be fed through a feeding tube that he is slowly weaning off of but still needs, had a blood transfusion from a significant loss of blood; and most importantly, a successful, 4 hour heart surgery 4 days after he was born to fix his Truncus Arteriosus and abnormal arterial flow. He will still need more heart surgeries throughout his life. To say the least, Kellin is an absolute warrior and the strongest little man I’ll ever know. He is truly his parents’ miracle. 

 

For those who don’t know: Truncus Arteriosus is a birth defect of the heart. It occurs when the blood vessel coming out of the heart in the developing baby fails to separate completely during development, leaving a connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery. DiGeorge syndrome is a disorder caused by a defect in chromosome 22. It results in poor development of several body systems.

 

Kellin has a strong grip and very ticklish feet. He loves looking around and raising his eyebrows at his Mom and Dad. And he is already growing his hair out to have a man bun just like his daddy. His accomplishments also include strong tummy times, and some pretty impressive diaper blow outs. 

 

This sweet boy had been kept on his lowest level of oxygen they can be giving him, and as of just this morning, he is officially off of the oxygen for the first time in his life!! He is still currently getting blood thinner injections for an arterial blood clot in his leg that will hopefully be done in the next few days. He is also struggling with fluid in his lungs. We are praying that he will not have to spend his first Christmas in the hospital, and is discharged the week of December 20 as projected!

As he overcomes these next challenges he should finally be able to go home for the first time. Once home, he will continue to need 5 different medications and his feeding tube. And the current nursing shortage has deprived them of getting the doctor recommended 2x a week at home nurse visits.

 

Within his short 3 weeks of life, this little warrior has gone through and crushed so many battles. But those battles are quickly adding up financially, with a large amount of his care not even being covered by his parents’ insurance. Since Kellin was born, Ed has been unable to work and has not been paid for his time off. He’ll have to go back to work the beginning of January. 

 

Alison and Ed are two of the most compassionate and loyal humans I know. They have been overjoyed beyond words the moment they heard they were going to be parents. His nursery is ready and waiting to welcome them all home. But they just need a little help. You can hear the words and think you can be ready for a diagnosis like this, but nothing can prepare you, mentally and financially, once the time finally comes. 

 

We are hoping to raise money to help cover the initial medical copays, their deductibles, and their ongoing medical bills from his extended hospital stay. This family deserves the world and so much more. If you have $1, $5, $100…please consider donating to Alison, Ed and Kellin. Leave a note or keep it anonymous. And please continue for prayers and hopes of strength, health, faith and patience for Kellin, Alison, Ed, their families, and the doctors and nurses helping take care of him. 

 

I am so thankful that we have a channel such as this page to help them in the biggest need of their lives. I personally cannot think of a better way to give back during the holiday season. If you’re looking for a family to help, please help Alison, Ed and Kellin. Thank you for reading, thank you for donating, and just as importantly, thank you for sharing their story to continue helping them as much as we can.