Brave Baby Ben
Hi, I'm Peggy, and I'm raising funds to help pay medical expenses now and into the future for my dear California friend's grandson. All funds will go directly to the parents. The bills have started pouring in, so hopefully help is on the way here. We expect this page will need to be active for a long time, depending on Ben's progress. This little baby's story is compelling and overwhelming.
On February 10, 2021, Jacqueline and Jeff's 4-month-old Ben developed a very serious rare infection that quickly led to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which has been life threatening. HUS caused him to go into complete kidney failure, requiring round the clock dialysis for 33 days. It also caused heart damage and severe brain injury. They almost lost him several times. He had more than 20 seizures in one night and had to be intubated for more than a month. The injury to his brain left him unable to swallow, cough or gag. They have spent weeks wondering if he will recover. Along the way, he suffered multiple bacterial infections and a blood clot. This poor baby gets poked and prodded every day to test various blood levels, most especially for his kidneys.
Due to the severe kidney damage, Ben has serious blood pressure issues and will be on several medications for months. He is extremely weak and will need many months of physical and occupational therapy once he returns home hopefully to improve his condition and development. As a result of Ben's weakness and lack of coordination in swallowing, he has to relearn how to feed again safely. Therefore, it was very difficult for Jacqueline and Jeff to make the final decision to have a gastrostomy tube (G tube) placed, allowing Ben to be able to receive the necessary nutrition he needs to grow, as well as the meds he must be on. He will continue to go through dysphagia therapy (swallow) in an effort to strengthen the muscles in his throat that hopefully will enable him to eat completely on his own someday.
As of this writing, they are at the end of day 76, and they don't know when he will be discharged and to go home. Even after he goes home, he has many months, possibly years, of treatments and therapy ahead of him.
The doctors, nurses, and specialists at Miller’s Children’s Hospital in Long Beach have been wonderful, working 24/7 to keep Ben alive and fight for his survival! Jacqueline is a nurse, and one of her coworkers had bracelets made that say BENNETT STRONG. They feel very emotionally supported and appreciate the love they receive from their friends and family and the medical staff. They have been told during the more than 2 months he has been in the hospital that their little Ben is a miracle baby, and his ongoing treatments will be extensive and expensive. They so much appreciate any help you are able to give to them and they are very grateful. They ask for your prayers and continued support.
This fundraiser/support page has been set up with all of the love in the world to ease the financial burden and everyday stressors on Jacqueline and Jeff during this difficult time. At least one of them has been with him 24/7 since February 10th. Jacqueline and Jeff felt uneasy about the idea of receiving financial support from others, but they have been reassured that we are all in this fight together and truly want to support them by any means possible. Thank you for your donations, encouraging messages, prayers, positive vibes, love and light. Any form of support, large or small, is greatly appreciated and will truly make all the difference! Jacqueline and Jeff and 4-year-old big brother Travis hope that Ben's persevering spirit will encourage and inspire all of us. He is a true warrior!!
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