Derhaag Family Medical

Hello everyone. My sister and her beautiful little family are on the edge of a terrifying journey. Gerrick and Nikki Derhaag are expecting a precious baby boy, Aksel, on July 1st. What began as a typical pregnancy changed directions in March. Nikki's OB/GYN informed them that Baby Aksel's heart was in the wrong place! After countless hours of panic, multiple visits with specialists, and testing of various kinds at Sacred Heart, it was determinded that Aksel has Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. In short, his diaphragm didn't form completely and so his heart and lungs are developing in the wrong place inside his tiny body. When a baby is born with this condition, the lungs are often to small to function even when the baby is full term. They also require multiple surgeries immediately following birth. With all of this in mind, Gerrick and Nikki are trying to ready themselves for a VERY long and stressful journey. The last thing they should be worrying about is the ability to pay for all of these specialists, surgeries, consults, and a 9-12 month long hospital stay with their precious Aksel. As a mother who also had a very stressful neonatal hospital journey, I wish I had spent my time loving my little boy instead of assuming I had the rest of his life to love him. I wasted my time worrying about money. Please help me in making sure this wonderful family doesn't make the same mistake. There is no telling how much everything will cost in the end, but anything is appreciated.