Hello, we are Becca and Zach Spidel, and we are trying to raise funds for dear friends of ours, the Tryon Family: Greg, Kat, and their two small children, Silas (3 years old) and specifically baby Jacob (3 months old). We'll give you the short version first and then a much fuller account for those of you who would like the specifics to be able to pray along. Anything you give will be deeply appreciated and immensely helpful.

Short version: After three long months spent in the ICU baby Jacob has just had open heart surgery and is struggling in the aftermath with some complications. The road ahead still looks long and Greg has no more PTO. The family needs to be together to weather this storm and make it the distance. We are trying to raise the funds so Greg can move himself and Silas to Cincinnati to be with baby Jacob and Kat and they can help one another until the day when baby Jacob can come home. Will you give to help make that possible?

Longer version: Jacob was born with Down Syndrome and a heart defect. He was born at the end of April and his entire life has been spent in Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Soon after his birth, Jacob was also diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease ( a birth defect where nerve cells are missing from parts of the large intestine, causing severe constipation or blockage). This required immediate surgery after birth, because he was not absorbing nutrients and he has stoma currently through which his bowel movements pass. This further complicates his health situation.

Greg has exhausted all of his paid time off from work. He and their 3 year old son Silas live in the Dayton area during the week . Greg goes to work 5 days a week and Silas is kept in the care of his grandparents. Kat has been living at the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati and staying with Jacob all week.

Jacob had open heart surgery on July 29th, 2025. This morning, August 4th, we received an update from them that included the following:

"Good morning folks. Jacob isn't doing the greatest, he had a fit last night and this morning (turning blue and accelerated heart rates). He's had to go up on some respiratory support as well. His BNP which is a heart stress marker has gone from 16,000 to 39,000. Mind you a normal rate is 100-1,000. His last echo showed moderate regurgitation on his right valve. He's getting another echo today and we'll see what that reveals. It's looking more likely that he will need another surgery sooner than later and that is pretty risky. We're asking for prayer."

They need our prayers but they need more than that. They need to be together at this critical juncture. One of Jacob's valves has worsened just in the course of the last 24 hours and any further surgery will entail an even more difficult and lengthier recovery.

Please help us in supporting this family, who has been fighting for the life of their baby boy for months. We are attempting to raise enough money to support them financially for 5 months and help them as they take on many unexpected costs related to Jacob's medical care. Our hope is that the family can all be together (supporting Mama Kat- who has been alone with Baby Jacob at the hospital full-time) as Jacob continues to fight for his life in the hospital.

Please also pray for Jacob's health and for the endurance of his parents. They are running a hard and lonely race.

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

"Dear Children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18

If you would prefer to give a different way, please contact:

Becca Spidel

740-584-1989 (cell phone)

33 South Garland Avenue

Dayton, OH 45403

[email redacted]