Help bring Zoey Uniat home

While 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered by most for the Covid 19 Pandemic, a young couple from Castlegar, Brett and Kendra (Wayling) Uniat, will remember it for the birth of their sweet daughter Zoey. Born on October 12, Thanksgiving Day, Zoey’s breathing was abnormal from the outset. With no improvement over two weeks the KBH arranged to fly Zoey and her Mom to Vancouver’s BC Children’s Hospital, Dad Brett drove to the coast the same day.

Zoey was bombarded by extensive testing upon her arrival:

-Ultrasounds of her brain, heart, and abdomen.
-X-rays of her lungs
-MRI of her brain.
-Genetic testing. 
-Urine tests for any metabolic disorders. 
-Retinal exam by ophthalmology.
-Echocardiogram of her heart. 
-X-rays during feeding to make sure she wasn’t aspirating her milk. 
-Multiple sleep studies
-Countless lab tests
-Spinal tap to test for neurological disorders

-Zoey has been fed by tubes through her nose mouth and now her stomach 
-She’s been on CPAP for six weeks


Zoey is now 9 weeks old and last week the DNA testing results came back, Zoey has a very rare genetic disorder… “Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome” (CCHS)
When Zoey is sleeping, her breathing becomes too shallow, causing her oxygen levels to drop and CO2 to build up in her blood.  Zoey will always require breathing support when she is asleep, so on Thursday, December 10th, she had surgery to put in a tracheostomy tube for her breathing and a gastrostomy tube for emergency feeding.  She is healing well.

There are a number of serious health concerns that come with CCHS (the NPARMS mutation) but to date, Zoey hasn’t shown any signs.  She has a high risk of developing neural crest tumors and will require frequent screening until at least the age of six.  For now, Zoey is healthy and happy, other than her breathing.
Brett and Kendra are optimistic about how Zoey is progressing and now start training for her care at home after discharge, which will likely be mid to late January.  Friends and family have rallied behind the Uniat’s to help make their transition back to Castlegar as smooth as possible.  Much support will be needed now and in the future to ensure that Zoey has the best life possible. 
Hardship comes in many different forms in 2020 as most of us have been affected one way or another by the pandemic and it’s far reaching consequences.  What Kendra, Brett and Zoey are dealing with is a life altering genetic syndrome that will require strict 24-hour monitoring for the foreseeable future and unfortunately, ventilation for life.


This Go-Fund-Me page has been created to support the Uniat’s in what lies ahead on their incredible journey.  As Christmas is upon us, please consider donating to this remarkable new family.

If you’d like to donate directly to the Uniat family we’ve created an email for etransfers, this will automatically go into an account for them!

[email redacted]

Kendra, Brett (and Baby Zoey) thank everyone for their support and love!