Elijah Morrell's Short Bowel Syndrome
Donation protected
UPDATE: Baby Elijah was born 6 weeks premature and had exploratory surgery just 2 days later. That surgery uncovered that more than 80% of the baby's small intestine and an important part of his large intestine never developed in the womb and had to be removed. This condition is called Small Bowel Syndrome or "short gut".
The surgeon successfully connected the small intestine to the large intestine but the road to recovery is going to be very long and complicated. Elijah's doctors don't expect that he will be discharged until AT LEAST April. That's 6 months from now! Even after he recovers and leaves the hospital, Elijah faces digestive, developmental and physical challenges which will require years of IV nutrition treatments, routine hospital visits and possibly even more surgeries.
I started this campaign when the Morrell family first found out that there was something wrong, but didn't know the extent of the problem. Now they must walk a road that no parent or child should have to walk. The road ahead will be a long and challenging road; one filled with ups and downs, joy and sadness and certainly lots and lots of expenses.
THE MORRELL FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Please consider donating and sharing this campaign anywhere and everywhere you can. Every little bit helps.
ORIGINAL: My name is Lee Sieron and I've started this campaign to raise money for my niece Nicole Morrell and her husband, Jason. They recently received some unfortunate news that their 4th child, due in November, has a condition called Small Bowel Atresia. This condition requires post-natal corrective surgery almost immediately after birth.
I'm hoping to raise enough money to cover the expected costs the Morrell family will be burdened with as a result of this surgery as well as the 2 to 3 months the baby will spend in the NICU during recovery. Nicole and Jason do have insurance but it only covers a portion of medical expenses and there are other expenses that come along with this process as well. I've outlined some of them below.
The Backstory
Jason and Nicole are parents of 3 happy and healthy boys and are expecting their 4th child sometime in November. The first 3 pregnancies went smoothly, as did the deliveries, Nicole gave birth to 3 very healthy baby boys. So they expected the fourth pregnancy to be the same-unfortunately, that isn't the case.
During one of Nicole’s recent ultrasounds, her doctor saw something on the scan that concerned him: Small Bowel Atresia. This complication is essentially a blockage within the small intestine. This blockage could be due to a pinched or collapsed portion of the intestine or it could be that there is a piece of the intestine missing entirely.
To be 100% sure, Nicole’s doctor referred her to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP). CHOP is located in Philadelphia and is one of the country’s premier children’s hospital and is better equipped to confirm the doctor’s prognosis and inform Nicole and Jason to the extent of the complication.
But that wasn't the only news: it seems that the singular course of action to correct this type of complication is post-natal surgery! Baby Morrell will undergo surgery on its small intestine within a day or two of birth. To make things worse, the baby is expected to remain in the NICU for 2 or 3 months after surgery to ensure he or she recovers well and doesn't encounter any further complications.
With so many unanswered questions, they still had to decide on an appropriate course of action for delivery and post-natal care, especially considering Jason works a full-time job that has him on the road 3 - 4 days a week. Do they deliver at CHOP nearly 90 minutes away? It’s one of the best hospitals in the country but what would that mean for Nicole as she gets closer to her due date? What if she goes into labor early? How will the family see the baby every day when they live so far away? And what about the other 3 boys? How will they take this news? What does this mean for them? How will we all adapt for the rest of 2019 and possibly into 2020? How will they manage to get to and from school every day and be fed and cared for? Who will be home to help them with homework or to play with them?
Reality Sets In
The reality is that if Nicole goes into labor early (which is often the case with this type of complication) she couldn't be 90 minutes from the hospital. CHOP suggested that she relocate nearer to the hospital about a month before her due date.
Mom and Dad also had to consider how they would see the baby every day post-surgery and during the long recovery months. Making that trip daily while trying to care for 3 young children at home just wasn't feasible. So, they decided that Nicole would stay for at least a month after delivery, with the high hopes that the baby might be discharged within that time or at least is stable and strong enough to be transported to a local hospital.
Jason and Nicole tried to get into the Ronald McDonald House (which is free) but that requires someone to be present with Nicole 24/7...and that just isn't possible. They explored other housing options like short-term apartment rentals, extended stay hotels, Airbnb, and even renting at RV parks. After weeks of research, they decided on a 2-month Airbnb just outside of Philly. While it wasn't cheap, it was the most affordable option to put Nicole in a comfortable living environment, in a good part of town, not far from CHOP.
So now with Nicole living in Philly for 2 months and Jason working 5 days a week, often out of town, who will take care of the 3 boys at home? There have been talks of family members moving in temporarily to help manage the day-to-day activities but that won’t be consistent and cover the boys' needs full time. There have been considerations of hiring a nanny part-time to fill in the gaps. Mom and Dad are also thinking about putting their youngest son, Jackson, in daycare while his brothers are in school. This would be the easiest and most beneficial solution for all involved, but it is expensive. With so much to consider, and with so many unknowns, Jason and Nikki need help the sooner the better. The last thing they need right now is more uncertainty. This is a tough situation to be in and we need to show we care. The actual care cost will be in the 100's of thousands of dollars depending on the length of stay for Baby Morrell. These are costs outside of the medical costs. Nicole is due the second week of November so there is a lot to do and quickly.
The Costs
The expected costs associated with this medical complication are expected to be anywhere between $30,000 - $50,000. Of course, the majority of the cost will come in the form of medical bills, even with insurance. But there are many other expenses to consider as well. Our hope is that this fund will cover all of the Morrell family’s bills (outlined below) that are directly related to this difficult situation.
Medical bills
Temporary housing
Relocation costs (including food and family travel expenses to see Nicole on the weekends)
Temporary daycare/pre-school/child care
Transportation (should she need it)
Unanticipated, miscellaneous expenses
The Game plan
While the exact game plan hasn't been finalized, the structure is there. Jason and Nicole have already begun to take action towards putting the plan in motion. Here’s how it looks right now:
● Relocate to temporary housing near CHOP in Philadelphia
● Find parental coverage for the 3 boys at home while Jason is unavailable
● Arrange part-time daycare for their youngest son Jackson
● Alternative transportation for Nicole while in Philadelphia
Thank you for any help, all is appreciated!
Lee Sieron
Any and all support we can give wonderful family is greatly appreciated. It will help to relieve some of the burden and stress in an already challenging situation. Please feel free to share the link on your Facebook page, through email, or on any social media platform. Thank you all!
The surgeon successfully connected the small intestine to the large intestine but the road to recovery is going to be very long and complicated. Elijah's doctors don't expect that he will be discharged until AT LEAST April. That's 6 months from now! Even after he recovers and leaves the hospital, Elijah faces digestive, developmental and physical challenges which will require years of IV nutrition treatments, routine hospital visits and possibly even more surgeries.
I started this campaign when the Morrell family first found out that there was something wrong, but didn't know the extent of the problem. Now they must walk a road that no parent or child should have to walk. The road ahead will be a long and challenging road; one filled with ups and downs, joy and sadness and certainly lots and lots of expenses.
THE MORRELL FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Please consider donating and sharing this campaign anywhere and everywhere you can. Every little bit helps.
ORIGINAL: My name is Lee Sieron and I've started this campaign to raise money for my niece Nicole Morrell and her husband, Jason. They recently received some unfortunate news that their 4th child, due in November, has a condition called Small Bowel Atresia. This condition requires post-natal corrective surgery almost immediately after birth.
I'm hoping to raise enough money to cover the expected costs the Morrell family will be burdened with as a result of this surgery as well as the 2 to 3 months the baby will spend in the NICU during recovery. Nicole and Jason do have insurance but it only covers a portion of medical expenses and there are other expenses that come along with this process as well. I've outlined some of them below.
The Backstory
Jason and Nicole are parents of 3 happy and healthy boys and are expecting their 4th child sometime in November. The first 3 pregnancies went smoothly, as did the deliveries, Nicole gave birth to 3 very healthy baby boys. So they expected the fourth pregnancy to be the same-unfortunately, that isn't the case.
During one of Nicole’s recent ultrasounds, her doctor saw something on the scan that concerned him: Small Bowel Atresia. This complication is essentially a blockage within the small intestine. This blockage could be due to a pinched or collapsed portion of the intestine or it could be that there is a piece of the intestine missing entirely.
To be 100% sure, Nicole’s doctor referred her to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP). CHOP is located in Philadelphia and is one of the country’s premier children’s hospital and is better equipped to confirm the doctor’s prognosis and inform Nicole and Jason to the extent of the complication.
But that wasn't the only news: it seems that the singular course of action to correct this type of complication is post-natal surgery! Baby Morrell will undergo surgery on its small intestine within a day or two of birth. To make things worse, the baby is expected to remain in the NICU for 2 or 3 months after surgery to ensure he or she recovers well and doesn't encounter any further complications.
With so many unanswered questions, they still had to decide on an appropriate course of action for delivery and post-natal care, especially considering Jason works a full-time job that has him on the road 3 - 4 days a week. Do they deliver at CHOP nearly 90 minutes away? It’s one of the best hospitals in the country but what would that mean for Nicole as she gets closer to her due date? What if she goes into labor early? How will the family see the baby every day when they live so far away? And what about the other 3 boys? How will they take this news? What does this mean for them? How will we all adapt for the rest of 2019 and possibly into 2020? How will they manage to get to and from school every day and be fed and cared for? Who will be home to help them with homework or to play with them?
Reality Sets In
The reality is that if Nicole goes into labor early (which is often the case with this type of complication) she couldn't be 90 minutes from the hospital. CHOP suggested that she relocate nearer to the hospital about a month before her due date.
Mom and Dad also had to consider how they would see the baby every day post-surgery and during the long recovery months. Making that trip daily while trying to care for 3 young children at home just wasn't feasible. So, they decided that Nicole would stay for at least a month after delivery, with the high hopes that the baby might be discharged within that time or at least is stable and strong enough to be transported to a local hospital.
Jason and Nicole tried to get into the Ronald McDonald House (which is free) but that requires someone to be present with Nicole 24/7...and that just isn't possible. They explored other housing options like short-term apartment rentals, extended stay hotels, Airbnb, and even renting at RV parks. After weeks of research, they decided on a 2-month Airbnb just outside of Philly. While it wasn't cheap, it was the most affordable option to put Nicole in a comfortable living environment, in a good part of town, not far from CHOP.
So now with Nicole living in Philly for 2 months and Jason working 5 days a week, often out of town, who will take care of the 3 boys at home? There have been talks of family members moving in temporarily to help manage the day-to-day activities but that won’t be consistent and cover the boys' needs full time. There have been considerations of hiring a nanny part-time to fill in the gaps. Mom and Dad are also thinking about putting their youngest son, Jackson, in daycare while his brothers are in school. This would be the easiest and most beneficial solution for all involved, but it is expensive. With so much to consider, and with so many unknowns, Jason and Nikki need help the sooner the better. The last thing they need right now is more uncertainty. This is a tough situation to be in and we need to show we care. The actual care cost will be in the 100's of thousands of dollars depending on the length of stay for Baby Morrell. These are costs outside of the medical costs. Nicole is due the second week of November so there is a lot to do and quickly.
The Costs
The expected costs associated with this medical complication are expected to be anywhere between $30,000 - $50,000. Of course, the majority of the cost will come in the form of medical bills, even with insurance. But there are many other expenses to consider as well. Our hope is that this fund will cover all of the Morrell family’s bills (outlined below) that are directly related to this difficult situation.
Medical bills
Temporary housing
Relocation costs (including food and family travel expenses to see Nicole on the weekends)
Temporary daycare/pre-school/child care
Transportation (should she need it)
Unanticipated, miscellaneous expenses
The Game plan
While the exact game plan hasn't been finalized, the structure is there. Jason and Nicole have already begun to take action towards putting the plan in motion. Here’s how it looks right now:
● Relocate to temporary housing near CHOP in Philadelphia
● Find parental coverage for the 3 boys at home while Jason is unavailable
● Arrange part-time daycare for their youngest son Jackson
● Alternative transportation for Nicole while in Philadelphia
Thank you for any help, all is appreciated!
Lee Sieron
Any and all support we can give wonderful family is greatly appreciated. It will help to relieve some of the burden and stress in an already challenging situation. Please feel free to share the link on your Facebook page, through email, or on any social media platform. Thank you all!
Organizer
jason morrell
Organizer
Howell, NJ