My name is Jessica. I have set up this go-fund me for my good friend Kayla von Borstel and her husband Jesse von Borstel. Kayla recently gave birth to a baby boy named Wyatt. Wyatt was born with an extremely rare heart condition called Ebstein's Anomaly in which there is an abnormality in the tricuspid valve.
At the 20 week ultrasound, Kayla and Jesse were told the case was mild and his condition was monitored through fetal echo's at OHSU in Portland. At one fetal echo, his condition suddenly changed from mild to extremely severe. His condition worsened so much that the back flow of blood caused his heart to swell like a balloon. There was no blood going to his lungs through his pulmonary valve, which was another unique layer added on top of his already rare condition. His heart took up 85% of his chest when it should have only taken up 33% of it. Because of this, his lungs didn't have room to fully develop.
Kayla started an experimental trial of heavy meds to slow the progression of the disease. They were informed OHSU was not adequately set up to handle the type of care Wyatt needed due to the severity of his condition. Kayla was referred to Stanford hospital in California. They were told Wyatt had a 30% chance of survival, at best.
Kayla soon left Oregon, her husband, and her three other children to transfer to Stanford hospital and temporarily move to California. She left not knowing how long she would be gone for.
Kayla was induced at 36 weeks and delivered Wyatt on 9/2/20. Wyatt barely survived birth and within a day of birth, had to be put on a machine called VA-ECMO that fully supported his heart and lungs, as well as have his first operation to help with blood flow.
Wyatt remains in ICU and will need to remain there for several more months to monitor his heart and wait for the holes in his lungs to heal/recover. He will also need surgery soon to fix the valve in his heart and resize his right atrium.
Overall, Wyatt is doing well and is making progress but this has not been without set backs along the way (such as having a mild stroke). Kayla was finally able to hold her little heart warrior for the first time on 9/23!!!
Wyatt's medical care, stay in ICU, delivery etc. has come at a huge financial cost to the von Borstels. They have also had to rent an apartment in California near the hospital while Wyatt remains in ICU. Jesse has to travel between Oregon and California to help care for their other young children. All donations/monetary gifts are greatly appreciated and will go towards medical expenses and cost of living. I will be updating this page on behalf of Kayla and Jesse on a regular basis. Please keep Wyatt and his family in your prayers, as his journey is long from over.
* Disclaimer - this page is for monetary donations/gifts which will be used for medical expenses and other expenses, such as cost of living, associated with Wyatts care. No goods or services are exchanged for the contributions made to this page. Thank you!