Bergeson Family Care Fund
Donation protected
My name is Anna Bergeson. I am starting this campaign for my baby brother and his sweet family. My brother is one of the kindest, hardest working, most thoughtful, hilarious men I will ever know. Even though he is my baby brother he has always been my protector, my strong shoulder, and my best friend. His wife Nicole has been one of my very closest friends for years. Long before she married into our family, I loved her just as much as I love my blood sisters. Across time, state lines, family tragedies, heartache, exciting celebrations, and happy times she has shown me true friendship through love, honesty, and laughter.
Last August Nicole entered her third trimester and an overwhelming list of complications arose. The gestational diabetes was managed by diet; however, the hypertension and cholestasis of pregnancy was out of control. Medications and other remedies weren’t helping, landing Nicole in triage several times. Near the end of the month, after a day in triage, Nicole was moved to labor and delivery where she was advised she wouldn’t be leaving the hospital pregnant.
While the baby was active with a strong heart, he had only grown 0.2 oz in three weeks and was no longer healthy inside the womb. Additionally, Nicole’s health was deteriorating and preeclampsia had set in. Even in the hospital, her blood pressure continued to soar to unhealthy heights. This led to ultrasounds, meetings with NICU doctors, and steroid injections to prepare the baby for delivery.
After a four day hospital stay which included two days of induction and labor, Nicole and her husband, Zack, opted for a c-section. They welcomed Felix Zachary Bergeson on August 31, 2017 at 11:58 PM. The four pound bundle of joy wasn’t breathing initially, but the team of nurses took amazing care of him. They heard his first cries soon after delivery.
While this seemed like a happy ending for the parents, knowing all of Nicole’s symptoms should end after delivery, Felix refused to eat. At five weeks early, he hadn’t learned how to breathe and swallow at the same time. Nicole would need to be on bed rest for two and a half more days, leaving her unable to see the little guy would go on to spend five weeks in the NICU.
During those five weeks, Nicole missed lots of work to recover from the c-section and spend time in the NICU with Felix. She tried pumping and different types of formulas and bottles to get Felix to eat. However, he would only take milk through a feeding tube. It was a frustrating five weeks of watching all the other babies go home, while Felix didn’t want anything to do with eating. In the last two days of their stay, Felix started waking up for feedings and taking a bottle. Little did they know this was just the beginning of the struggle.
Felix would go on to have feeding and digestive problems once home. This required additional appointments with doctors and specialists, as well as a special formula that cost $70 per week. He also had colic, crying for six to ten hours each day and waking every thirty to forty five minutes every night. Nicole continued to miss work to become adjusted to life with a newborn and to focus on Felix’s special needs.
In the midst of all of this, they tried to find joy in the Christmas season. However, that December the bills started rolling in. They totaled over $30,000. There was a technicality with the insurance company that kept them from paying a large portion of each bill. One of the bills for $22,000 even had a 1.8% interest which came to almost $500 of interest each month. Zack and Nicole worked on filing appeals, working with different companies, setting up payment plans, and hiring lawyers and financial advisors to help.
This all seemed manageable. Even if it took 30 years to pay off, they had Felix. However, the payments and fees are adding up. They’re struggling to stay afloat financially. Additionally, Nicole hasn’t finished her course of treatment due to the fear of more medical bills. The stress of pregnancy, labor, and delivery left Nicole with heart irregularities. She needs testing and to wear a Holter monitor for a few days.
Donations would help pay for past expenses and continued care for Felix’s feeding issues, allow Nicole to set up testing on her heart, and ensure they’re able to catch up on payment plans and living expenses.
As a thank you, each donation will be emailed an 8x10 print illustrated by Nicole. Here’s what she had to say about the print:
“While in the hospital meeting with NICU doctors, they kept talking about Felix not being able to breath on his own in ultrasounds. I was so scared for my child and was unsure about my body, the diagnosis, and how to move forward. A dear friend who had previously been through so much came to pray over me and Felix, sent encouraging texts, and shared 2 Corinthians 1:4 with me.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-5 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
I would look at this verse as we navigated NICU, leaving the hospital without a baby, wondering how to help my baby, and all the struggles that came in the months that followed. In the last 10 months, I’ve cried out to God like never before. It’s been the most humbling experience. God has shown me that Felix needed a kinder, more understanding, humbled momma. During the last 10 months, I’ve also been able to see opportunities to comfort others. Without realizing it, I was living out the verse. It took on a second meaning for me. Asking for help financially is another way the Lord is humbling and teaching me. Through my illustrations, and a very small gift, I want to share this verse. You are comforting us in a time when our need is great. I thank God already for you, and I pray you find comfort in Him and His people in all of your own troubles.”
Your donation will go to:
Past medical expenses for Felix
Current nutritionist, specialist, and prescriptions for Felix
Past medical expenses for Nicole
Lab tests, EKG, and Holter Monitor for Nicole
Legal fees
Living expenses
Last August Nicole entered her third trimester and an overwhelming list of complications arose. The gestational diabetes was managed by diet; however, the hypertension and cholestasis of pregnancy was out of control. Medications and other remedies weren’t helping, landing Nicole in triage several times. Near the end of the month, after a day in triage, Nicole was moved to labor and delivery where she was advised she wouldn’t be leaving the hospital pregnant.
While the baby was active with a strong heart, he had only grown 0.2 oz in three weeks and was no longer healthy inside the womb. Additionally, Nicole’s health was deteriorating and preeclampsia had set in. Even in the hospital, her blood pressure continued to soar to unhealthy heights. This led to ultrasounds, meetings with NICU doctors, and steroid injections to prepare the baby for delivery.
After a four day hospital stay which included two days of induction and labor, Nicole and her husband, Zack, opted for a c-section. They welcomed Felix Zachary Bergeson on August 31, 2017 at 11:58 PM. The four pound bundle of joy wasn’t breathing initially, but the team of nurses took amazing care of him. They heard his first cries soon after delivery.
While this seemed like a happy ending for the parents, knowing all of Nicole’s symptoms should end after delivery, Felix refused to eat. At five weeks early, he hadn’t learned how to breathe and swallow at the same time. Nicole would need to be on bed rest for two and a half more days, leaving her unable to see the little guy would go on to spend five weeks in the NICU.
During those five weeks, Nicole missed lots of work to recover from the c-section and spend time in the NICU with Felix. She tried pumping and different types of formulas and bottles to get Felix to eat. However, he would only take milk through a feeding tube. It was a frustrating five weeks of watching all the other babies go home, while Felix didn’t want anything to do with eating. In the last two days of their stay, Felix started waking up for feedings and taking a bottle. Little did they know this was just the beginning of the struggle.
Felix would go on to have feeding and digestive problems once home. This required additional appointments with doctors and specialists, as well as a special formula that cost $70 per week. He also had colic, crying for six to ten hours each day and waking every thirty to forty five minutes every night. Nicole continued to miss work to become adjusted to life with a newborn and to focus on Felix’s special needs.
In the midst of all of this, they tried to find joy in the Christmas season. However, that December the bills started rolling in. They totaled over $30,000. There was a technicality with the insurance company that kept them from paying a large portion of each bill. One of the bills for $22,000 even had a 1.8% interest which came to almost $500 of interest each month. Zack and Nicole worked on filing appeals, working with different companies, setting up payment plans, and hiring lawyers and financial advisors to help.
This all seemed manageable. Even if it took 30 years to pay off, they had Felix. However, the payments and fees are adding up. They’re struggling to stay afloat financially. Additionally, Nicole hasn’t finished her course of treatment due to the fear of more medical bills. The stress of pregnancy, labor, and delivery left Nicole with heart irregularities. She needs testing and to wear a Holter monitor for a few days.
Donations would help pay for past expenses and continued care for Felix’s feeding issues, allow Nicole to set up testing on her heart, and ensure they’re able to catch up on payment plans and living expenses.
As a thank you, each donation will be emailed an 8x10 print illustrated by Nicole. Here’s what she had to say about the print:
“While in the hospital meeting with NICU doctors, they kept talking about Felix not being able to breath on his own in ultrasounds. I was so scared for my child and was unsure about my body, the diagnosis, and how to move forward. A dear friend who had previously been through so much came to pray over me and Felix, sent encouraging texts, and shared 2 Corinthians 1:4 with me.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-5 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
I would look at this verse as we navigated NICU, leaving the hospital without a baby, wondering how to help my baby, and all the struggles that came in the months that followed. In the last 10 months, I’ve cried out to God like never before. It’s been the most humbling experience. God has shown me that Felix needed a kinder, more understanding, humbled momma. During the last 10 months, I’ve also been able to see opportunities to comfort others. Without realizing it, I was living out the verse. It took on a second meaning for me. Asking for help financially is another way the Lord is humbling and teaching me. Through my illustrations, and a very small gift, I want to share this verse. You are comforting us in a time when our need is great. I thank God already for you, and I pray you find comfort in Him and His people in all of your own troubles.”
Your donation will go to:
Past medical expenses for Felix
Current nutritionist, specialist, and prescriptions for Felix
Past medical expenses for Nicole
Lab tests, EKG, and Holter Monitor for Nicole
Legal fees
Living expenses
Organizer and beneficiary
Anna Bergeson
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Nicole Bergeson
Beneficiary