Battling for Blake

Hello! My name is Brooke, and I'm Blake's auntie. I am starting this gofundme for my sister Brittany and nephew Blake (pictured above). I have been lucky enough to be close to Blake almost his entire life. If his gorgeous blue eyes and curly blond hair don't make your heart melt, his caring, compassionate, goofy, and kind-hearted personality will win you over for sure. My sister Brittany is the most selfless, strong, and loving mom I know and Blake is one of the strongest, most reslient, optimistic, and happy boys I have ever met. On the surface, you wouldn't even guess the struggles this boy has faced. 

Blake was born with malrotation; his bowels were in a ball on the right side of his abdomen. He had the Ladd's procedure to position his digestive tract so that it decreases the chance of volvulus in addition to surgically having his g-tube placed, all as an infant. We had hoped this would have led to a better quality of life, however the last 8 months have been filled with medical tests and hospitalizations which revealed additional underlying medical issues. 

Due to his gastroparesis and chronic dismotility, he has had to be on continuous tube feeds using an (expensive) elemental formula because his body cannot digest his food and absorb the nutrients.

September 14, 2017, Blake will undergo an open surgery to have the sigmoid portion of his colon removed, to fix his antral web, and remove adhesions (scar tissue) that are present throughout his digestive system. The surgery and follow up will all be at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee; 10 hours from home. Due to the rarity of his motility and gastroparesis condition, there are only 5 hospitals in the U.S. that can perform this procedure and this is the closest place for Blake to get the care he needs. 

Brittany and Blake will be in Milwaukee for a minimum of 1-2 weeks, but the actual time needed there is unknown, as the outcome of the procedure is unknown and they suspect there might be other underlying conditions. This is not including recovery time for Blake at home. Brittany will have to travel back to Milwaukee for additional follow-up going forward to treat and manage Blake's condition. The time Brittany will be in Milwaukee will be unpaid, not to mention the travel costs and medical costs that come along with the trip and follow-up appointments, in addition to her regular household bills and expenses.

Because Brittany and Blake hold a special place in so many people's hearts, it is my hope that this fundraiser can help lessen the already stressful time they are both going through by helping to alleviate some of the financial burden. Any and every cent donated is greatly appreciated!
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this , donate, and make a difference to a very special family's life.