Aaron Jacob Blair Bianco & Family need us!

Hi everybody! I’m Aaron Jacob Blair Bianco and I was born on March 20 by C-section. I had open heart surgery immediately after I was born to correct a heart condition where blood from the left atrium isn’t able to get to the ventricle because there’s a membrane present that failed to open. It’s called Cor Triatriatum and you can read more about it here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cor-triatriatum.

 Other findings-my brain looks good but some of my bones are a littlebit shorter than average (upper arm, upper leg). The doctors believe I have achondroplasia or some form of skeletal dysplasia. If they’re right, I’ll be what’s referred to as a “little person.” (When my big brother DI learned about this possibility, he said “A little person! I love little people! He’ll be unique and that will make himextra special!”)

Right now I’m on an ECMO machine to make sure my blood is oxygenated and circulating as my heart and lungs stabilize. (My lungs were struggling after my surgery, but they feel pretty good now ☺️.)As you’ll see from the link, there are lots of risks, so please pray I can get off it soooon! (I was able to spend three hours off it last night 3/30, so I should be off any day now!!) 

I’m in the PCICU (pediatric cardiac intensive care unit) at the Children’s Hospital at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oaklawn. They’re taking SUCH good care of me! The hospital is 1hr + from home, and Mama and Papa are staying at the Ronald McDonald house across the street and visiting me all the time. I love them. I’m so glad I picked them to be my parents. I made the right choice.

Thank you for reading and for loving me and my family!

As you can imagine, David and Jenny are struggling with having a very fragile baby and wanting to be as present to him as possible as well as being parents to three other kids who love and need and miss them. They are EXHAUSTED. They are profoundly grateful for your love and support and ask that if you want to reach out, please only do it here or in Caring Bridge - no calls, no texts, no e-mails. It’s a challenge to be in the middle of an ongoing medical crisis that has no set end in sight without having to explain it over and over to concerned loved ones and deal with emotions and questions besides their own.

The funds raised here will go toward paying monthly bills, hopefully for the next few months since AJ will most likely be in the NICU for a while.

Update: we’re nearly at our goal! We won’t be raising it, but will be leaving the fundraiser open for anyone who feels moved to donate. No one has any idea of the duration of the stay in the NICU or what life will be like once AJ returns home and what kind of needs there will be for additional therapies, support, resources, et. Every donation is deeply appreciated and will be put to responsible use. Since David and Jenny are self-employed and didn’t have plans for a surprise prolonged hospital stay, these funds will soften the next season & go a long way toward alleviating a major stressor. Not having to work will allow them to focus on healing - both Jenny and AJ, and to spend time together as a family as they get used to their new normal.

Thank you for your love. Thank you for your prayers. They are felt and appreciated. And they make a difference.