Help Bring Healing to the Hortons
Donation protected
I was 12 weeks pregnant. We had just put Parker to bed and were settling in for a late dinner when Adam received the call at 8pm. Adam hadn't been feeling well for months and, at my urging, saw a new doctor for a different opinion. She called us that night because she had the results of his blood work, and it was not good news: His white blood count was the highest she had ever seen at 91.1 (normal range is 4.5 to 11.0). His hemoglobin was shockingly low at 6.7 (normal is 13.8 to17.2). He needed to go to the ER immediately.
A few days and diagnostic tests later, we got the news no one wants to hear: Adam has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
We are lucky that Adam's long term prognosis is very hopeful. However he needs a bone marrow transplant and the timing is not great. He will likely miss the birth of our daughter and will not be in a position to help care for her. He will need a lot of care himself, which leaves me, who also will need to recover from childbirth, as the sole caregiver to a newborn, a toddler with complex food allergies, and a sick husband.
We have had so many people ask how they can help, and now we finally have an answer. We need to hire a postpartum doula. We can't afford one on our own. We need your help.
Why We Need a Postpartum doula
Adam will be admitted for his bone marrow transplant the day after Thanksgiving. He will be in the hospital for at least the majority of December. His stay could easy go much longer if he has complications. When he is out of the hospital, he is going to be very weak and need a lot of care. It's a slow recovery with many demands for the caregiver of the patient.
As his wife, I am his caregiver. I will be at least 37 weeks pregnant when he gets home with a toddler who has his own medical needs. Adam will require daily hospital visits for awhile and I need to accompany him. He will not be allowed to drive and may not have full acuity. With Covid restrictions, I can't bring Parker or the baby when she arrives. It is literally not possible for me to do this all by myself.
Speaking of Covid, it's the other major complicator. Adam's immune system will be extremely fragile. We have a long and extensive list of rules we need to follow to keep him safe. A cat scratch will be reason to call the doctor; Covid would likely kill him.
We have a very delicate balance to maintain. We need to bring in help, but we also need to be very selective from where it comes from. The number of people allowed in our house needs to be as small as possible.
Childcare has been the biggest problem spot for us. We have had to rely heavily on friends and family throughout Adam's chemotherapy. They have been amazing, but with Adam's fragile immune system and a our little girl's arrival, our needs cannot be reasonably met by just family and friends.
A postpartum doula is our answer. We found a doula company that can meet our needs: the ability to do overnights, an understanding of how serious sanitation and social distancing is for us, and a backup person who can fill in if the main doula is sick. The doula they will match us with can do all of this and more.
Her job will be to help fill the hole of a healthy parent. She obviously is not a replacement for Adam, but she will make it possible for me to do everything I need to do and also make sure that I take care of myself. She will be our lifeline until Adam gets stronger and we adjust to life with our new baby.
The big drawback? The price. Doulas are professionals and come with a professional's price tag. Couple that with just how much help we need and the bill is huge.
How Much Money Do We Need?
About $25,000. I will adjust the number when we have a more concrete plan for hours and pick our doula (We have it down to two very reputable companies). I will also provide more details so you understand where the figure comes from.
Other Ways to Help:
DONATE BONE MARROW: It's easy to do, free, and you could save someone's life. We were lucky that Adam's brother was a perfect match, but many other families are not as lucky. You can learn more about donating and sign up using the link below:
Be The Match
YARD WORK HELP: If you are local, we could use help with shoveling this year. We live in Monroe, Ohio. (Contact me if interested)
MEAL HELP: This will be updated as we get more information about both Adam's and Parker's dietary restrictions. This could be a non-starter depending on how strict Adam's dietary needs will be. If you are wanting to help in this way, wait for now. If we can accept donations, realize that there will be a slew of rules to follow for all of the family to enjoy what you made. We should have updates on this by the end of November.
SHARE OUR STORY: If you are not in a position to donate, please consider sharing our GoFundMe link.
A few days and diagnostic tests later, we got the news no one wants to hear: Adam has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
We are lucky that Adam's long term prognosis is very hopeful. However he needs a bone marrow transplant and the timing is not great. He will likely miss the birth of our daughter and will not be in a position to help care for her. He will need a lot of care himself, which leaves me, who also will need to recover from childbirth, as the sole caregiver to a newborn, a toddler with complex food allergies, and a sick husband.
We have had so many people ask how they can help, and now we finally have an answer. We need to hire a postpartum doula. We can't afford one on our own. We need your help.
Why We Need a Postpartum doula
Adam will be admitted for his bone marrow transplant the day after Thanksgiving. He will be in the hospital for at least the majority of December. His stay could easy go much longer if he has complications. When he is out of the hospital, he is going to be very weak and need a lot of care. It's a slow recovery with many demands for the caregiver of the patient.
As his wife, I am his caregiver. I will be at least 37 weeks pregnant when he gets home with a toddler who has his own medical needs. Adam will require daily hospital visits for awhile and I need to accompany him. He will not be allowed to drive and may not have full acuity. With Covid restrictions, I can't bring Parker or the baby when she arrives. It is literally not possible for me to do this all by myself.
Speaking of Covid, it's the other major complicator. Adam's immune system will be extremely fragile. We have a long and extensive list of rules we need to follow to keep him safe. A cat scratch will be reason to call the doctor; Covid would likely kill him.
We have a very delicate balance to maintain. We need to bring in help, but we also need to be very selective from where it comes from. The number of people allowed in our house needs to be as small as possible.
Childcare has been the biggest problem spot for us. We have had to rely heavily on friends and family throughout Adam's chemotherapy. They have been amazing, but with Adam's fragile immune system and a our little girl's arrival, our needs cannot be reasonably met by just family and friends.
A postpartum doula is our answer. We found a doula company that can meet our needs: the ability to do overnights, an understanding of how serious sanitation and social distancing is for us, and a backup person who can fill in if the main doula is sick. The doula they will match us with can do all of this and more.
Her job will be to help fill the hole of a healthy parent. She obviously is not a replacement for Adam, but she will make it possible for me to do everything I need to do and also make sure that I take care of myself. She will be our lifeline until Adam gets stronger and we adjust to life with our new baby.
The big drawback? The price. Doulas are professionals and come with a professional's price tag. Couple that with just how much help we need and the bill is huge.
How Much Money Do We Need?
About $25,000. I will adjust the number when we have a more concrete plan for hours and pick our doula (We have it down to two very reputable companies). I will also provide more details so you understand where the figure comes from.
Other Ways to Help:
DONATE BONE MARROW: It's easy to do, free, and you could save someone's life. We were lucky that Adam's brother was a perfect match, but many other families are not as lucky. You can learn more about donating and sign up using the link below:
Be The Match
YARD WORK HELP: If you are local, we could use help with shoveling this year. We live in Monroe, Ohio. (Contact me if interested)
MEAL HELP: This will be updated as we get more information about both Adam's and Parker's dietary restrictions. This could be a non-starter depending on how strict Adam's dietary needs will be. If you are wanting to help in this way, wait for now. If we can accept donations, realize that there will be a slew of rules to follow for all of the family to enjoy what you made. We should have updates on this by the end of November.
SHARE OUR STORY: If you are not in a position to donate, please consider sharing our GoFundMe link.
Organizer
Megan Horton
Organizer
Monroe, OH