Go to Bat for Casey (R.Fitzgerald) (C.Young)

Need: medical care & costs associated

To benefit: Christina Young-Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzgerald and infant twins, 1 month olds Jude (L) and Casey (R).

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Ryan is a teacher at Stanley Elementary School in Waltham and tutors on the side. He’s worked for the Red Sox, seasonally, for 18 years, first with security and now parking. He further supports his family, as well as his Wakefield community, by offering lawn mowing and winter shoveling services for little to no cost for local fixed income and elderly community members.

Christina was a school psychologist and play therapist specializing in acute trauma and autism for most of her adult life. Within the community, Christina has been a Girl Scout leader/volunteer and further volunteered with Boston Children’s Hospital. Christina's contract recently ended allowing her to pursue her dream of building a family.

After many unsuccessful attempts, Christina and Ryan were cautiously optimistic, albeit concerned, upon hearing that Christina was expecting twins. The pregnancy was both complicated and fragile, requiring several interventions and both Christina and the twins experienced some medical stress. The boys were born 6 weeks early, and although 34 week prematurity "is common for twins", it still comes with complications (nicu, jaundice, feeding, and temp regulation). After the boys were discharged at about 3 weeks, additional complications emerged requiring added GI support. Severe reflux for both, Jude with a tongue tie and now Casey Has been identified as having a collapsed airway. (Google: Tracheomalacia)

Casey was aspirating on multiple formulas (not only into his lungs but up his nose) and upon switching his formula to something that would be safer, he rapidly declined, lost too much body weight, became lethargic and dehydrated and is now at a very high risk for cardiac arrest.

Currently Casey is at Boston Children's. The goal is to stabilize Casey with the expectations that he’s going home (eventually) with a gtube. A collapsed airway presents a risk for the first two years of his life.

Christina and Ryan are struggling with insurance to try to get some coverage for supplies. Their formula is $900-1100 per month.

Christina and Ryan have some savings.

Currently they are spending about $100 a day on parking, and then additional money on copays and the previous hospital stays. There has been more than 21 procedures and visits in their short lives. Presently they are $40,000 into medical expenses.

Christina and Ryan gladly accept the depletion of their savings. As Christina says "the concern is Casey, not copays".

In addition to their hospitalized infant son Casey, they still have a one month old infant at home, Jude, that is also medically fragile as well as a young elementary school age daughter.

It is not feasible for Christina to go back to work right now as she will be the primary caretaker for both boys.

Christina and Ryan are not used to being on the end of receiving. As educators, as a trauma therapist, as advocates for children and children's special needs, and for autistic children, they are devastated to find themselves in a position where they might be accepting financial and/or gift support from others, especially as both Christina and Ryan feel that there are so many more people in need.

Their community: Wakefield Moms, Buy Nothing Wakefield, Wakefield Community Page, as well as many other families in Wakefield, Waltham and surrounds are requesting donations on behalf of the Fitzgerald's, who have done so much for others.

Any amount would be a blessing. No donation is too small.

Direct donation option is also available through venmo: @jackie-natale, reason: CASEY