Help Support The Silknitter Family Through a Medical Crisis

Maddie and Scott Silknitter are living every parent’s worst nightmare — watching their 16-month-old son, Jake, fight through a life-threatening illness with no clear answers yet.

Jake is full of energy, curiosity, and mischief in the best way. He keeps everyone on their toes and brings joy wherever he goes. He loves being outside, riding along with his dad, and helping with chores around the house — especially if it involves the mower. He looks up to his big brother Stetson, who’s currently at home with family while Jake is in the hospital.

After getting sick from E. coli, Jake was admitted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. His condition worsened quickly, and he had to be flown by helicopter to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. He was diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare and serious complication that affects the kidneys, blood, and other organs. Since arriving, things have gotten more complicated — he’s developed fluid on his lungs, high blood pressure, and a secondary Salmonella infection. He’s being monitored around the clock in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), receiving medication, IV support, and nutrition through a PICC line.

As of now, Jake’s care team is preparing him for a blood transfusion and dialysis beginning Monday, April 14th. It’s a step no one hoped would be necessary, but one his doctors feel is needed to help his body keep fighting. His hospital stay is expected to last at least a couple of weeks, possibly longer, depending on how he responds in the days ahead.

Maddie and Scott haven’t left his side. They’re living out of bags in Kansas City, doing their best to stay strong through sleepless nights, emotional conversations with doctors, and the constant worry of what comes next.

This GoFundMe is here to help take some of that weight off their shoulders. Donations will go toward:

• Ongoing medical expenses

• Travel and fuel for repeated trips to and from Kansas City

• Lodging near the hospital

• Food and essentials while away from home

• Lost income from missed work

• Childcare and support for Stetson back home

• Any long-term care or recovery needs once Jake is discharged

This GoFundMe is being organized by me, Mason — Maddie’s brother and Jake’s uncle. I’ve watched my sister show a kind of strength no parent should ever have to summon. She and Scott have handled every terrifying update with grace, grit, and unwavering love for Jake. They are doing everything they can — and I wanted to do something for them.

As a dad myself, I know what it’s like to sit by a hospital bed, helpless and scared. Two of my youngest kids spent time in the NICU, and while every story is different, I know how exhausting, emotional, and financially draining long hospital stays can be. This isn’t just about bills — it’s about giving Maddie and Scott the space to focus fully on Jake without the added weight of everything piling up behind them.

Your donation helps make that possible. If you’re not in a position to give, please consider sharing this or keeping Jake in your thoughts and prayers. Every message, every name, every bit of support is felt — and it truly helps.

Thank you for standing with Jake and our family. He’s still fighting — and so are we.