Help 2.5-year-old Emery & Riley have Life Changing Surgeries

Please help support my brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Tracey, in being able to have their twin 2.5 year olds, Emery and Riley, have the surgeries they need to have a chance at a normal life:

Emery has a complex atrial septum defect that needs open heart surgery to close it, due to a genetic condition called Holt-Oram. This defect has left a large hole between the 2 upper pumping chambers of the heart. Due to the location of the defect this has created electrical issues with her heart. She will be getting a pacemaker while she is in surgery for the closure of the large hole. She will have the pacemaker for the rest of her life. It will require additional trips to Boston for this to be managed just like Riley.

Riley has the same genetic syndrome. Part of the syndrome is holes in his heart and upper limb differences. He only has 4 fingers and no thumbs on each hand. Boston Children's has one of the best programs for children with limb differences. The doctors are going to use one of the fingers to make him thumbs. He will be having a total of 4 hand surgeries in Boston over the next 6 months. He will have 2 on each hand. With each of these surgeries it will require Paul and Tracey to take him to Boston for surgery and then back to Boston 4 weeks after to have the cast removed and perform the next surgery. He is going to require extensive therapy so he can learn to use his new thumbs. Right now, he is not able to do things like little boys his age do like feed himself, hold a cup, color, etc. We all take these daily tasks for granted.

Right now, Emery and Riley are in several different therapies. Due to insurance restrictions, they are only allotted 20 visits a year and the rest are self- pay. As you can imagine, these visits are used up very quickly. Riley is still G-tube fed and insurance does not cover his formula. It is very costly. He is working in feeding therapy to learn to eat but it is a very slow process.

The Ronald McDonald house is full and Paul and Tracey do not qualify for other housing options that are available to some families. The hospital only allows one parent to stay the night, so a hotel is the only option when Paul and Tracey are in Boston for the twins surgeries.

We would be so grateful for any help that you can offer. These sweet babies have faced so much in their little lives. We want them to have every chance to live their lives to the very fullest. Those sweet smiles light up the world! Thank you so much for your love, care, prayers and support.