Rowan's Heart Fund
Donation protected
On September 18, Matt and I received some potentially devastating news about our daughter, Rowan. The ultrasound that day seemed to suggest that Rowan has a congenital heart defect. On September 23, we met with a cardiac specialist at Children's Hospital in Boston, who confirmed the diagnosis. Rowan has a condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia. It basically means that she has a hole in her heart between her two ventricles, and no pulmonary valve, which compromises the blood flow to her lungs.
While Rowan is safe as long as she is in utero, once she is delivered, the problems will really begin. With no pulmonary valve, the major concern is whether or not she will be able to get enough oxygen into her blood stream to support her body systems. This means that Rowan will need to undergo open heart surgery within the first week of her life to correct the defect and build her a new pulmonary valve.
I am not normally the type of person who would be so open about my private life, and I hate asking others for money. However, I need to do this for my daughter and my husband. Since we are currently a one income family, I am watching my husband struggle with the decision between being there for his daughter and working to support our family. The only way Matt will be able to be there for Rowan during her surgery and her recovery will be to take Family Medical Leave time which is unpaid. On top of that we will need to travel to and from Boston daily until Rowan can come home, and will need to arrange childcare for our 2 year old son.
I would like to give us the freedom to make decisions based on what is best for the emotional and physical health of our family rather than based on finances. I don't want Matt to miss out on this important time with Rowan because he needs to pay the mortgage.
If you can help, we would be incredibly grateful!
While Rowan is safe as long as she is in utero, once she is delivered, the problems will really begin. With no pulmonary valve, the major concern is whether or not she will be able to get enough oxygen into her blood stream to support her body systems. This means that Rowan will need to undergo open heart surgery within the first week of her life to correct the defect and build her a new pulmonary valve.
I am not normally the type of person who would be so open about my private life, and I hate asking others for money. However, I need to do this for my daughter and my husband. Since we are currently a one income family, I am watching my husband struggle with the decision between being there for his daughter and working to support our family. The only way Matt will be able to be there for Rowan during her surgery and her recovery will be to take Family Medical Leave time which is unpaid. On top of that we will need to travel to and from Boston daily until Rowan can come home, and will need to arrange childcare for our 2 year old son.
I would like to give us the freedom to make decisions based on what is best for the emotional and physical health of our family rather than based on finances. I don't want Matt to miss out on this important time with Rowan because he needs to pay the mortgage.
If you can help, we would be incredibly grateful!
Organizer
Alisa Steel
Organizer
