The Road of Hope: Easton Teeples
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Hi, I am Cassandra Backaus, Steve’s oldest sister. I am flooded with many emotions as I begin writing this, lots of starts and stops. I have never really been one for words, usually just laughs, so I will do my best as this one tugs on my heart more than anything ever has. Those of you who know Steve and Marcie know they are extremely private people. To those that are not aware, I say this because they often just keep to themselves, and when need help, they only ask for prayers.
The season of giving is upon us, and often we think of ways to give back to our community, family, and friends. Over the course of this pandemic I have seen many people do good things to inspire others to do the same. I share this remarkable story of faith, hope and love with you and trust it will touch your heart in a similar way.
Easton’s road has been full of happiness, tears, uncertainties, and prayers to say the least. After all that life has brought him, one thing is for certain: God is faithful.
Easton was born May 17th, 2019. He was hospitalized for 52 consecutive days in the first two months of his life. Since then, Easton has been hospitalized more than you can count on both hands for various reasons. Just last month alone he has been to Rochester for a few night’s stays, one of them including a med flight there! Additionally, he has had multiple blood transfusion, underwent surgery on his line, and a long stay in Rochester over Halloween weekend caused by an infection just in the last month.
Easton has Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, which means important proteins that are needed for every system in your body and are supposed to stay inside your body are being filtered through his kidneys and excreted through urine. When his protein levels get low his body retains fluid and he starts to look, “puffy”. They notice it most in his eyelids and face. To combat this, he is on daily protein infusions that last 6 hours! Easton is connected to an IV pole for 6 hours a day, every single day! Can you even imagine? He needs to be constantly monitored and needs help to move his pole with him while he plays and moves. Easton has a central line which is a catheter that goes straight into a vein to facilitate the daily infusions and blood draws. He has had this replaced 4 times. Can you even imagine a 1.5-year-old having to deal with this? His diagnosis also puts him at an increased risk for blood clots. He has had a very extensive DVT in the past. DVT is Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot that forms inside a vein. Each day he takes about 15 different medications and supplements to correct the problems caused by the loss of protein.
Due to his loss of protein, he is also severely immunocompromised. Prior to Covid they did not take him out other than to doctors’ appointments. Covid has posed a whole new challenge for their family. They have to be extra careful about what they do and who they are around. They take no unnecessary trips out of the house and are constantly stressed about even necessary contacts, like doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. There are many members of our own families who have not met Easton yet, due to being extra cautious for his weakened immune system.
The good news is we are optimistic that Easton will hopefully be able to have his transplant soon! Easton will undergo a procedure in December in hope of clearing the scar tissues that were created by the large DVT that he required. There is a possibility of nephrectomy, which would remove his kidney, or dialysis prior to the transplant.
As of often as I find myself complaining about “2020, “ “The Pandemic” and so many other things, I literally cannot imagine the stress their little family has to be going through when dealing with an already stressful situation. I can promise you they would never reach out and ask for help, which is why I feel it is my job to step in as only a big sister can. From the bottom of my heart, I beg you to rally around this family in any way you can.
At this point, I can tell you, anything would help. Your prayers, words of encouragement or even financial contributions if you feel so inclined. I have created an account for them at the ….. for donations, simply say it’s for Easton Teeples. I am linking a Go Fund Me page and I also have created a separate page for other ideas you may have to help me take a little stress off them.
As I said in the beginning, if you know Steve and Marcie, you know they will not share their struggles. They will not share about the financial burdens they have because they have sacrificed regular employment in order to care for their son. They will not share the heartache they endure each day as they pray for a cure and “normal days” just to enjoy life the way a family should. They will not share the fears and uncertainties about “what if…” Their humility keeps them silent, but my faith hope and love for them gives me the courage to share.
With love, aunt Bugsy
The season of giving is upon us, and often we think of ways to give back to our community, family, and friends. Over the course of this pandemic I have seen many people do good things to inspire others to do the same. I share this remarkable story of faith, hope and love with you and trust it will touch your heart in a similar way.
Easton’s road has been full of happiness, tears, uncertainties, and prayers to say the least. After all that life has brought him, one thing is for certain: God is faithful.
Easton was born May 17th, 2019. He was hospitalized for 52 consecutive days in the first two months of his life. Since then, Easton has been hospitalized more than you can count on both hands for various reasons. Just last month alone he has been to Rochester for a few night’s stays, one of them including a med flight there! Additionally, he has had multiple blood transfusion, underwent surgery on his line, and a long stay in Rochester over Halloween weekend caused by an infection just in the last month.
Easton has Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, which means important proteins that are needed for every system in your body and are supposed to stay inside your body are being filtered through his kidneys and excreted through urine. When his protein levels get low his body retains fluid and he starts to look, “puffy”. They notice it most in his eyelids and face. To combat this, he is on daily protein infusions that last 6 hours! Easton is connected to an IV pole for 6 hours a day, every single day! Can you even imagine? He needs to be constantly monitored and needs help to move his pole with him while he plays and moves. Easton has a central line which is a catheter that goes straight into a vein to facilitate the daily infusions and blood draws. He has had this replaced 4 times. Can you even imagine a 1.5-year-old having to deal with this? His diagnosis also puts him at an increased risk for blood clots. He has had a very extensive DVT in the past. DVT is Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot that forms inside a vein. Each day he takes about 15 different medications and supplements to correct the problems caused by the loss of protein.
Due to his loss of protein, he is also severely immunocompromised. Prior to Covid they did not take him out other than to doctors’ appointments. Covid has posed a whole new challenge for their family. They have to be extra careful about what they do and who they are around. They take no unnecessary trips out of the house and are constantly stressed about even necessary contacts, like doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. There are many members of our own families who have not met Easton yet, due to being extra cautious for his weakened immune system.
The good news is we are optimistic that Easton will hopefully be able to have his transplant soon! Easton will undergo a procedure in December in hope of clearing the scar tissues that were created by the large DVT that he required. There is a possibility of nephrectomy, which would remove his kidney, or dialysis prior to the transplant.
As of often as I find myself complaining about “2020, “ “The Pandemic” and so many other things, I literally cannot imagine the stress their little family has to be going through when dealing with an already stressful situation. I can promise you they would never reach out and ask for help, which is why I feel it is my job to step in as only a big sister can. From the bottom of my heart, I beg you to rally around this family in any way you can.
At this point, I can tell you, anything would help. Your prayers, words of encouragement or even financial contributions if you feel so inclined. I have created an account for them at the ….. for donations, simply say it’s for Easton Teeples. I am linking a Go Fund Me page and I also have created a separate page for other ideas you may have to help me take a little stress off them.
As I said in the beginning, if you know Steve and Marcie, you know they will not share their struggles. They will not share about the financial burdens they have because they have sacrificed regular employment in order to care for their son. They will not share the heartache they endure each day as they pray for a cure and “normal days” just to enjoy life the way a family should. They will not share the fears and uncertainties about “what if…” Their humility keeps them silent, but my faith hope and love for them gives me the courage to share.
With love, aunt Bugsy
Organizer and beneficiary
Cassandra Backaus
Organizer
Black River Falls, WI
Steve Teeples
Beneficiary
