This GoFundMe campaign was created for Reyna, Victor and Niko who could use some extra love and support as Niko is about to undergo open-heart surgery.
on October 16, 2024 Niko was brought into the emergency room for difficulty breathing while sleeping. As we were admitted into the emergency room they ran test and found that Niko was positive for COVID, RSV and Pneumonia. He was admitted and transferred to PICU where he was fully sedated and intubated.
With history of fenestrated secundum ASD and unrepaired moderate to large VSD who presented with URI symptoms and was found to have RSV, COVID, and pneumonia. He was intubated on 10/17 for respiratory failure and started on COVID therapies and transferred from PICU on 10/22 due to concerns for cardiac contribution to his respiratory failure. We then later found out that he developed another virus called Adenovirus, while fighting RSV, COVID and Pneumonia. slowly Niko started to recover from the viruses and he was extubated on 11/8 and working on weaning sedation and optimizing nutrition. Where he remained critically ill, requiring CICU services for risk of cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic decompensation.
On November 16th we were moved out of CVICU to Cardiology patient care unit (CPCU) where the nurses just monitor breathing and the heart.
Niko is currently fed through an NG tube, due to lack of having strength to latch/suck during feedings. He is seeing speech therapist, physical therapist for his movement, since he was intubated so long he doesn’t have control of his neck and they have set goals for him to get muscle movement back where he has accomplished moving his hands and feet.
Still working on neck movement and rollovers without getting tired.
Niko remains admitted for medical management of worsening heart failure symptoms (poor growth, emesis, tachypnea, fatigue) related to unrepaired VSD physiology. On November 27th, Niko was presented at Texas Childrens Hospital Heart Conference where he was accepted to have his heart surgery, they have already determined the date for December 2, 2024.
The VSD is a specific type of defect that is found to be present in 1/240 babies in the US and is the most common heart defect.
90% of VSDs will close on their own by the time the child is 6 years old. However, due to the size and location of Niko’s the doctors were doubtful that it would close on its own, creating more health issues.
During this time, Reyna has been off work to stay with Niko during his recovery.
With all of the hospitalizations Niko has experienced, Reyna has not had any income, she has taken a leave of absence unpaid, where all her PTO was used during her maternity leave earlier this year.
If you to consider helping eliminate some of the financial stress that we are about to endure and show your support for us as we go through this difficult time.
If you decide to donate, it will be much appreciated. If you can’t, we appreciate you keeping Niko in your thoughts and prayers.
All proceeds from this Go Fund Me go directly to Reyna and Niko , and will be used for some of the following...
*Food & Meals
*Bills & Lost Wages
*Recovery items for Niko’s OHS
*Any Other Necessities
if you would like to make a donation not through GoFundMe please contact Victor or Reyna.
Notes from rounds when the medical teams talk about Nikos history and plans :
12/2/24 UPDATE
Niko is out of surgery successfully closed a large VSD and a small ASD. We are going to be in the Cardiology ICU for a few days, once Niko is off the ventilator we will possibly move out of ICU into Patient Care Unit and have some physical therapy and learn new things of how to properly care for Niko since he had surgery.
please continue to pray for Niko for a speedy recovery
