CHD Family in Need
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Baby Idris
The Daut family was excited when they found out that they were expecting an addition to the family.
During the first prenatal visit, Mom learned she was pregnant with twins. Later, it was discovered that the twins were a boy and girl. There were no complications during the pregnancy and everything appeared to be going well.
However, at 32 weeks, Mom went into labor early and gave birth to son Idris (5 lbs 6 oz), and daughter Sage (5 lbs 8 oz).
Despite the premature births, the babies seemed to be healthy. It wasn't until 5 days later that a NICU nurse detected a heart murmur on Idris . After an echocardiogram was ordered, the family learned of Idris' heart defect.
Idris was immediately transported to the local children's hospital, where the diagnosis of Tetrology of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia was made. Due to the seriousness of Idris' complicated heart, he was referred to Lucille Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (over 400 miles from the family's home), in order that Dr. Frank Hanley (a preminent surgeon specializing in Idris' particular complications) perform Idris' first- of what is likely to be many- surgeries.
Idris was scheduled for his first surgery in March, but his medical team opted to move his surgery up by 2 months, leaving the family scrambling to cover housing, transportation and the other significant costs in less than a week.
The family has a long road ahead of them and they are grateful for any assistance.
Medical Expenses
Of the 2,000,000 personal bankruptcies filed each year, 60% are due to medical expenses (1,200,000). [1]
And of the 1.2 million people filing for bankruptcy due to medical bills every year, 75% of them have health insurance. [2]
Further, a $500 unexpected medical bill is too much for 84% of Americans to pay out-of-pocket.[3]
The family is blessed that their insurance coverage is robust enough to cover much of the hundreds of thousands of dollars of treatment that Idris will require.
However, insurance does not cover the ancillary yet significant expenses that the family must incur in order to get Idris the surgery he needs to live.
The family must temporarily relocate over 400 miles away in one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S. so that Idris can have his operation.
OpHeart
OpHeart is a non-profit organization started by a heart family in a similar situation as Idris'. Baby Ari was barely breathing when her mother rushed her into the ER and found out that her perfect baby girl had been suffocating nearly to death for the first 6 weeks of her life.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect, and are also the leading cause of infant mortality.
OpHeart's mission is to save the lives of babies like Ari and Idris by empowering families to effectively advocate for their children.
OpHeart learned of the Idris' family and their immediate need, and launched this campaign to help the family avoid significant debt- at a time when they need to be focused on their family, and the repair and recovery of Idris.
Footnotes
[1], [2] Harvard University Consumer Bankruptcy and Financial Health (January 2015)
[3] Kaiser Family Foundation Data Note: Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs (Mar 2, 2017)
The Daut family was excited when they found out that they were expecting an addition to the family.
During the first prenatal visit, Mom learned she was pregnant with twins. Later, it was discovered that the twins were a boy and girl. There were no complications during the pregnancy and everything appeared to be going well.
However, at 32 weeks, Mom went into labor early and gave birth to son Idris (5 lbs 6 oz), and daughter Sage (5 lbs 8 oz).
Despite the premature births, the babies seemed to be healthy. It wasn't until 5 days later that a NICU nurse detected a heart murmur on Idris . After an echocardiogram was ordered, the family learned of Idris' heart defect.
Idris was immediately transported to the local children's hospital, where the diagnosis of Tetrology of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia was made. Due to the seriousness of Idris' complicated heart, he was referred to Lucille Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (over 400 miles from the family's home), in order that Dr. Frank Hanley (a preminent surgeon specializing in Idris' particular complications) perform Idris' first- of what is likely to be many- surgeries.
Idris was scheduled for his first surgery in March, but his medical team opted to move his surgery up by 2 months, leaving the family scrambling to cover housing, transportation and the other significant costs in less than a week.
The family has a long road ahead of them and they are grateful for any assistance.
Medical Expenses
Of the 2,000,000 personal bankruptcies filed each year, 60% are due to medical expenses (1,200,000). [1]
And of the 1.2 million people filing for bankruptcy due to medical bills every year, 75% of them have health insurance. [2]
Further, a $500 unexpected medical bill is too much for 84% of Americans to pay out-of-pocket.[3]
The family is blessed that their insurance coverage is robust enough to cover much of the hundreds of thousands of dollars of treatment that Idris will require.
However, insurance does not cover the ancillary yet significant expenses that the family must incur in order to get Idris the surgery he needs to live.
The family must temporarily relocate over 400 miles away in one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S. so that Idris can have his operation.
OpHeart
OpHeart is a non-profit organization started by a heart family in a similar situation as Idris'. Baby Ari was barely breathing when her mother rushed her into the ER and found out that her perfect baby girl had been suffocating nearly to death for the first 6 weeks of her life.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect, and are also the leading cause of infant mortality.
OpHeart's mission is to save the lives of babies like Ari and Idris by empowering families to effectively advocate for their children.
OpHeart learned of the Idris' family and their immediate need, and launched this campaign to help the family avoid significant debt- at a time when they need to be focused on their family, and the repair and recovery of Idris.
Footnotes
[1], [2] Harvard University Consumer Bankruptcy and Financial Health (January 2015)
[3] Kaiser Family Foundation Data Note: Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs (Mar 2, 2017)
Organizer
Annie Garcia
Organizer
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