Sweet Baby Jaxon

Jaxon William Gunner Schaefer was born 5 weeks early on 9/23/14 at 3:25pm via Emergency C-section at 4.14lbs. He has had a pretty tough go at life so far. Jaxon was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and AV Canal (Atrioventricular Canal, which is a hole in the heart that needs to be surgically repaired) and right now is currently in heart failure. Jaxon was in the NICU for several weeks after he was born where multiple nurses and doctors worked with him to try to get his heart failure under control with medications so he could go home with his mom and grow a little bit more before his required heart surgery which Doctors anticipated to be approximately 6 months after he was born. Jaxon has been quite the fighter these past several weeks; however the medications were not working the way Doctors would have liked them to. Jaxon has his first heart surgery on 10-22-14 where a PA (Pulmonary Artery) banding was placed on his heart to temporarily repair it until he is big enough to have his full heart surgery. The surgery went well however Jaxon remains in the cardiac ICU because the band is too loose and they still cannot get his heart failure under control. On top of that Jaxon has had multiple fevers from infections, 2 separate blood transfusions, a blood clot in his right leg, and has been in quite a bit of pain. Doctors were hoping that Jaxon would grow into the PA band that was placed however this has not been happening and therefore it is anticipated that Jaxon and mama will be in the hospital for the remaining months leading up to his full heart repair surgery. They are basically trying to hold off as long as they can on medications for him to get bigger so they can perform the full heart surgery when he is at a healthier weight. Jaxon continues to receive daily OT/PT/ST and respiratory therapy.

In the meantime Jaxon is struggling with extreme elevated heart rates in the 200's at times, low oxygen levels, is fed through a feeding tube and has difficulty breathing with wheezing pretty much all the time with respirations at times in the 130's.  I recently visited Jaxon in the hospital and listening to him wheezing and having difficulty breathing 24/7 brought me to tears....I don't know how Jen does it seeing her little baby boy in such pain every day!

Jaxon's mama has been such a fighter and loving mama through all of this. She has been at the hospital by his side day and night since he was born and is doing all of this as a single parent. Jen has been so brave and selfless throughout all of this. She has not been able to work for over 6 weeks and it has not only taken an emotional toll on her but a financial one as well. She is unable to pay her bills, not to mention the thousands of dollars in hospital bills she is accumulating.

I would like to start this fundraiser to help Jen get through this tough time since she plans to be in the hospital with Jaxon for another few months. Any dollar amount you can give would be much appreciated and if you are not able to give, your love and prayers as well as spreading Jen and Jaxon's story would be appreciated. Jaxon and Jen are going through such a trying time right now and could use any support you could give them. They are both amazing strong fighters!

The meaning of Jaxon's name says it all...
Jaxon: God has been gracious. William: Strong willed warrior. Gunner: Battle strong. 

Let's help out this beautiful mama and baby as much as we can and show our love and support :)