Cash's NICU Stay

On October 9, my husband and I went into the hospital to have our first child, a son. Due to complications during the birth and subsequent emergency C-section, our son was born on October 10 at 12:07 a.m. not breathing. He was taken from the operating room and intubated immediately. Unfortunately, he suffered a hypoxic brain injury from lack of oxygen and had to be transported to another hospital for life-saving care.  This treatment involved him undergoing hypothermia therapy for 72 hours to slow the damage to his brain. Because he had to maintain a low body temperature during this time, it meant we were not able to hold our baby for the first 3 days of his life, something that will deeply hurt us for many years to come. He was on IV nutrition and pain medication for this period, and was briefly on CPAP when his lung function slowed down too much for him to breathe on his own. After the 72 hour mark, they were able to warm him back up - on that day I was finally able to hold my child. He then was in the NICU for an additional 11 days to receive follow up care, including a brain ultrasound, MRI, EEG, and various other tests. As his hospital stay continued, the many tubes and wires that adorned him were removed one by one, until finally his feeding tube came out on October 21st, the first day we saw his perfect face completely bare. We were discharged from the NICU on October 23rd, and were finally able to go home.

Since taking him home, our son Cash has absolutely flourished. From our regular pediatrician visits, to the follow up appointments with his neurologist and developmental specialist, they all agree that the care he received allowed his brain to heal significantly and he should not have any lasting effects from this very traumatic event.

We are so immensely grateful to the staff at Banner Estrella, as well as the incredible group of nurses, neonatologists, neurologists, and respiratory therapists at Banner Thunderbird that cared for our son during this time.

Between the emergency transport from one hospital to another, the standard costs for a C-section birth, and a 2-week NICU stay, our medical bills are quite a bit more than we can handle, so we are asking for your help. Any contribution or boost to spread the fundraiser is truly appreciated.