Baby Lucas Healing Fund
Donation protected
4/4/2017-
20 weeks into pregnancy, Rachel and AJ were informed that their baby had enlarged kidney's and they had cysts on them as well. The doctor's were calling it Polycystic Kidney Disease. They were concerned for his future and quality of life. The docotor's reccommended Rachel go out to Seattle after a check up late January that showed she had low amniotic fluid. The facilities in and around the Helena, Montana area were just not equipped to give them the care they would potentially need.
Rachel, AJ, & her mom flew out to Washington immediatley and stayed with her sister in Bellingham for 6 weeks until they were able to get a room in the Ronald McDonanld House. After another 6 weeks of appointments and waiting ....she was finally induced March 30th and delivered our sweet baby Lucas Harding on March 31st.
Lucas was breathing well on his own, which was their main concern from the get-go. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. He was stable enough to be transferred from the NICU at the University of Washingtion Hospital over to the NICU at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Saturday April 1st. Once there everyone was anxious to hear what the experts had to say....
There were many scans & test done on little baby Lucas to see what, if anything, would show up. On top of that Rachel & AJ were told that all they can really do is focus on one thing day by day...week to week. No real definative answers.
Today they are doing metabolic genetic testing and will be taking a lot of blood from the little guy, so they already have to do a blood transfusion. There are signs pointing towards some sort of metabolic disorder and in addition to all that, some parts of his heart look thickened as well.
As you can imagine, it's all the unknowns that make this situation so difficult. If it were just a straight, easy diagnosis then they could continue on with treatment. But as it stands, we will only get a small glimpse of the big picture.
4/6/2017
Another twist of fate in this short life journey for our sweet babay Lucas.... Late yesterday afternoon we received the earth shattering news tha Lucas has a genetic metabolic disorder called Glutaric Acidemia Type 2.... he has one of severest forms and rarest cases. He continues to be on life support, and has been trying his hardest (as he is a little warrior)but his poor little body cannot break down proteins & fats. We now know that his large kidneys are just a part of this genetic defect and not the cause of all his symptoms.
There is no cure or treatment to make this better for Lucas to improve. We have been told that Rachel & AJ will need to make some very hard decisions about his end of life.
Please continue to keep them in your thoughts & prayers as they go thourgh this life changing event.
We anticiapte major expenses in addition to what they have already experienced with the specialist visits, hotel & travel expenses, and time out of work for AJ.
If you feel compelled to help support this new family with their journey and transitions.... please make your contribution through this Go Fund Me account. We thank you for all the continued love and support. It does not go unnoticed!!
20 weeks into pregnancy, Rachel and AJ were informed that their baby had enlarged kidney's and they had cysts on them as well. The doctor's were calling it Polycystic Kidney Disease. They were concerned for his future and quality of life. The docotor's reccommended Rachel go out to Seattle after a check up late January that showed she had low amniotic fluid. The facilities in and around the Helena, Montana area were just not equipped to give them the care they would potentially need.
Rachel, AJ, & her mom flew out to Washington immediatley and stayed with her sister in Bellingham for 6 weeks until they were able to get a room in the Ronald McDonanld House. After another 6 weeks of appointments and waiting ....she was finally induced March 30th and delivered our sweet baby Lucas Harding on March 31st.
Lucas was breathing well on his own, which was their main concern from the get-go. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. He was stable enough to be transferred from the NICU at the University of Washingtion Hospital over to the NICU at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Saturday April 1st. Once there everyone was anxious to hear what the experts had to say....
There were many scans & test done on little baby Lucas to see what, if anything, would show up. On top of that Rachel & AJ were told that all they can really do is focus on one thing day by day...week to week. No real definative answers.
Today they are doing metabolic genetic testing and will be taking a lot of blood from the little guy, so they already have to do a blood transfusion. There are signs pointing towards some sort of metabolic disorder and in addition to all that, some parts of his heart look thickened as well.
As you can imagine, it's all the unknowns that make this situation so difficult. If it were just a straight, easy diagnosis then they could continue on with treatment. But as it stands, we will only get a small glimpse of the big picture.
4/6/2017
Another twist of fate in this short life journey for our sweet babay Lucas.... Late yesterday afternoon we received the earth shattering news tha Lucas has a genetic metabolic disorder called Glutaric Acidemia Type 2.... he has one of severest forms and rarest cases. He continues to be on life support, and has been trying his hardest (as he is a little warrior)but his poor little body cannot break down proteins & fats. We now know that his large kidneys are just a part of this genetic defect and not the cause of all his symptoms.
There is no cure or treatment to make this better for Lucas to improve. We have been told that Rachel & AJ will need to make some very hard decisions about his end of life.
Please continue to keep them in your thoughts & prayers as they go thourgh this life changing event.
We anticiapte major expenses in addition to what they have already experienced with the specialist visits, hotel & travel expenses, and time out of work for AJ.
If you feel compelled to help support this new family with their journey and transitions.... please make your contribution through this Go Fund Me account. We thank you for all the continued love and support. It does not go unnoticed!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jaime Forkel-Holmes
Organizer
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Rachel Forkel
Beneficiary