04/21/26 Update:

Bodin has open heart surgery April 29th 2026.

With that being said, it’s another 2 weeks of hospital living. Blake lost his job back in march and recently just started a new job, things are tough. Blake unfortunately will not be able to stay the whole 2 weeks as he can not take that much time off with a new job so gas for him will be hard going back and fourth between home and Iowa City. Mykeala will be with Bodin the whole time but with that there is food expenses. If you could help in anyway it’s very much appreciated. Please pray for our strong boy as he is in surgery and recovery!

12/3/25 Update:

Bodin is 11 weeks old. It’s been a while since we updated. Bodin has gone through so much. Doctors have been working to figure out what is causing his oxygen desaturations. He has had 2 sedated endoscopies, a sleep study, a CT Scan of his jaw, a surgery to repair his voice box and it has been determined he has a short lower jaw that may be causing the desats. This poor little guy will undergo a pretty major surgery called a mandibular distraction osteogenesis. It is a surgical procedure that lengthens the lower jaw to correct a smaller or recessed jaw,. The process involves making a cut in the jawbone, attaching a distraction device, and slowly pulling the bone segments apart over a period of weeks to create new bone and tissue in the gap, which can resolve breathing and feeding problems in infants. He will have to be sedated the entire time those rods are in which could be a few weeks. This has been so heartbreaking to watch this little guy go through this. He is on track to have his open heart surgery when he is 6 months old. Please continue to pray!!!

10/15/25 Update from Mykeala:

This is an update from Mykeala. Any help is very much appreciated.

Update: we are still in NICU as little man has been having some oxygen issues and it’s honestly just up in the air when we’ll be able to go home. it’s honestly up to him and if he can keep his oxygen up when he falls asleep. they have upped his Lasix medication to continue to do what it needs to do and push the extra fluid out of his lungs. he still needs to continue to work on his tone in his jaw to be strong enough to stop his tongue from falling in the back of his throat.

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I just want to say thank you so so much to everyone who had donated and helped, I also want to thank everyone for all the thoughts and prayers for baby bodin. his dad and I appreciate it all more than anyone would know. it’s truly been a blessing knowing how many people think about, and support us. it has helped us get through all of this so much!! 

9/29/25 Update:

According to the doctors, Bodin will be in the NICU for 3 more weeks. He has fluid/blood in his lungs so they started him on medication to regulate blood flow and help his little heart and lungs. His heart defect makes him super sleepy and doesn't have the strength to feed on his own so when he goes home, he will more than likely have the feeding tube until he is strong enough to feed on his own. Keala has been by his side since he was born and Blake has been traveling back and forth between home and the hospital ( 66 miles one way to the hospital, 1 hr. 10 minutes one way) as he just started a new job and cannot stay at the hospital. If you are able to help with expenses, food, gas at all it would be very much appreciated.

~Team Bodin~

UPDATE:

Bodin is here and is doing well. He will be in the NICU until he starts eating without needing a feeding tube. He has jaundice so they think that is making him too sleepy to feed. He is doing great. His little heart is doing great as well. He is still on track to have his heart surgery between 4 and 6 months old. Thank you to all who have donated and reached out.

Original Story:

I am really not sure where to begin. My son Blake and his girlfriend Mykeala are expecting a baby boy in September. This pregnancy has been very difficult and emotional as there has been one issue after another. These 2 have endured a tremendous amount of stress, fear and grief that no parent, especially first time parents, should ever have to experience.

This baby boy has been diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) with an AVSD heart defect that will require him to have open heart surgery between 4 and 6 months of age. Everything else looks good with the baby but the doctors really won't know if there are more issues until he is born and they can run various tests on him.

They established care in Iowa City and have a whole team of doctors, specialists and counselors as the baby will be born in Iowa City. They are now making weekly trips to Iowa City as the countdown is on for baby's arrival. Mykeala will not be able to work and Blake will be back and forth from Iowa City and taking days off and the bills and expenses still go on. If you can help at all it would be greatly appreciated.

These kids could really use a little help and would appreciate anything.

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I have never set up a go fund me so not sure what to expect.