Fletcher's Fight For Life

After a healthy uneventful pregnancy Stacey and Axel welcomed their second baby into the world in February 2021. He had to be born quickly due to a dangerously low heart rate, and after a short 4 hour labor, Fletcher made it earth-side, but not as his family had planned. He was born blue and unresponsive, and after 3 minutes of CPR, he finally took his first breath.

Due to the incredible work of the doctors and nurses Fletcher became stable enough to be transferred to the Women's and Children's Hospital. Fletcher was a fighter from the beginning, he made sure he did it his own way and taught those around him how strong little babies can be! Fletcher was still struggling to breath and showed sign of apneas and significant oxygen desaturations. After many tests, genetics, sleep studies and countless bloods and x-rays, Fletcher was diagnoses with both central and obstructive sleep apnea. Fletcher was then diagnosed with silent aspiration, so a feeding tube was needed to assist in keeping his lungs safe and protected from aspirating. This wasn't the news they had expected after such an easy and uneventful pregnancy. Fletcher finally became stable enough that they could take him home and begin to settle into life as a family of four. Even with his extra medical needs, they were so excited to introduce him to his long awaited friends and family, as well as his big sister who desperately waited for endless cuddles at home.

Fletcher was a sleepy baby, he napped most of the day and struggled to met milestones. He was so loved and doted over by his family.

Stacey, who is Fletcher's mother, then booked into a family photoshoot to met other oxygen and tube feed babies @Little Bubba Brave, and this is were we began to become friends.

Unfortunately Fletcher never got to make it to this event. His time at home was cut short, he suddenly turned blue and lifeless and was rushed back to the Women's and Children's Hospital after they suspected he had a seizure.

The Doctors quickly placed him on anti seizure medication, but after 4 days and many more blue spells, a series of tests from EEGs to L&P, more genetics, MRI, scans and more medications along with countless bloods, Fletcher was still a mystery. His seizure medication was stopped as after multiple tests no signed of seizures were detected.

Within hours of finding out that is wasn't seizures causing Fletcher to regress he turned blue again and couldn't breath. He was then placed on life support and rushed to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. (PICU) where machines would take over his breathing for him.

Since then he has had so many tests with still so many unanswered questions. Specialists are left without answers and his parents are left with no way to know if there little boy will ever come back home again.

The Doctors are now racing against the clock to find an answer in the hopes they can help Fletcher to begin to breath on his own again.

Fletcher is still currently under a lot of investigations and constant tests, its currently being investigated if he has a neurological disorder as well as Mitochondrial disorders. Having either of these devastating diseases can cause his body to struggle to break down proteins and absorb what his body needs. With only 4 other people previously been born with it, the outcome doesn't look good with them unfortunately passing  away before any treatment could begin. This isn't the news they had hoped for....

Fletcher's family have had to give up everything to spend what precious time they have with him as they have been told to prepare that he may not ever make it back home. They make the trek to Women's and Children's daily. This cost alone has become so great its putting a huge amount of pressure on the family. Between car parking fees, fuel, as well as the inability to work while being by Fletchers bedside.

I have set up this Go Fund Me tohelp take the pressure off Stacey, Axel and their family. To let her family have as much time as possible with Fletcher. Even the most smallest of gestures will just give this beautiful kind hearted family the time they need to focus on what's really important. Even just $5 will make a huge impact. $40 will give them a weeks parking pass as well as $10 will allow them a chance to buy a meal or cover the fuel for the daily drive down to the hospital.

Unfortunately the bills do not stop when your child is sick in hospital and the costs to just be next to their son's bedside and spend those moments with him will make all the difference.

Thank you so much, from Fletcher's family and all those supporting through Little Bubba Brave.

xox