Baby Verri's Battle Against CDH
Donation protected
Moms and Dads fight for their children...... it's what they do. For Karen and Mike, they're fighting for their baby who hasn't been born yet. His name is Dominic.
When Karen was 20 weeks pregnant, she did what all expectant moms do. She went to her Obstetrician for her anatomy scan. Expecting it to be a joyful day counting fingers and toes and getting every reassurance that her baby was going to be OK, instead it became the day everything changed. "The heart is being pushed over to the left," the doctor said. "Something is wrong. You need to see a specialist in Miami."
The next day, Karen and Mike drove to Miami to have a high resolution ultrasound and meet with Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists and genetic counselors. They told her his condition was severe. The words "abort" and "terminate" were used. Their perfect pregnancy was over, but Karen and Mike weren't ready to give up. Moms don't give up. Dads don't give up. Karen quickly took to the web to find out more.
See, Dominic has a rare birth defect called Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). There is a small hole in his diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs that allows us to breathe). His intestines are pushing up through the hole on the right side of his chest, pushing his heart over to the left and impeding the normal development of his lungs. 1/2500 pregnancies result in a child with CDH. If you're interested in learning more about CDH, this site is very comprehensive http://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia-cdh/about#.VmGvYGQrK8U
That is when Karen discovered the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of only four centers in the country that specialize in CDH. For Dominic to have a chance, for their baby to have the BEST chance at survivial, Karen and Mike made the decision to seek out care at CHOP. It was there that they received more reassuring news.
Dominic has between a 60-70% chance of survival. Though it's not as high as they had hoped, Karen and Mike are hoping with prayers that their son will not only survive but thrive. He will need surgery to repair the hernia. He will need support the help his lungs grow. Some fortunate babies are able to spend only a short time (1-2 months) in the NICU before going home. Some spend 6 months or more. We are all simply hopeful Dominic comes home a healthy baby boy.
Since their decision to be treated at CHOP, the medical bills have been steadily coming in. So far they are responsible for $11,000 in medical costs, an amount that is likely to double by the time Dominic is born. That's not including flights, airfare, lodging, etc. Right now the plan is for Karen to move to the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. She and her mom and Amelia will be moving before the end of the year - moving their daughter away from home and away from her daddy before her first birthday. It's a sacrifice Mike and Karen are both making so that Dominic has the best chance at survival.
They wouldn't set this GoFundMe up themselves, but there is no question that they need help. Karen will be depleting her sick/vacation time which will affect their income. This year they purchased their first home. Any money raised will help pay medical bills and allow Karen to be in Philadelphia up until Dominic is born and until he can go home. This means so so much to our family.
We appreciate you sharing their story so that there can be one less burden on their shoulders. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate you fighting for Karen and Mike so they can continue to fight for their baby.....
We support each other. It's what family and friends do.
When Karen was 20 weeks pregnant, she did what all expectant moms do. She went to her Obstetrician for her anatomy scan. Expecting it to be a joyful day counting fingers and toes and getting every reassurance that her baby was going to be OK, instead it became the day everything changed. "The heart is being pushed over to the left," the doctor said. "Something is wrong. You need to see a specialist in Miami."
The next day, Karen and Mike drove to Miami to have a high resolution ultrasound and meet with Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists and genetic counselors. They told her his condition was severe. The words "abort" and "terminate" were used. Their perfect pregnancy was over, but Karen and Mike weren't ready to give up. Moms don't give up. Dads don't give up. Karen quickly took to the web to find out more.
See, Dominic has a rare birth defect called Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). There is a small hole in his diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs that allows us to breathe). His intestines are pushing up through the hole on the right side of his chest, pushing his heart over to the left and impeding the normal development of his lungs. 1/2500 pregnancies result in a child with CDH. If you're interested in learning more about CDH, this site is very comprehensive http://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia-cdh/about#.VmGvYGQrK8U
That is when Karen discovered the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of only four centers in the country that specialize in CDH. For Dominic to have a chance, for their baby to have the BEST chance at survivial, Karen and Mike made the decision to seek out care at CHOP. It was there that they received more reassuring news.
Dominic has between a 60-70% chance of survival. Though it's not as high as they had hoped, Karen and Mike are hoping with prayers that their son will not only survive but thrive. He will need surgery to repair the hernia. He will need support the help his lungs grow. Some fortunate babies are able to spend only a short time (1-2 months) in the NICU before going home. Some spend 6 months or more. We are all simply hopeful Dominic comes home a healthy baby boy.
Since their decision to be treated at CHOP, the medical bills have been steadily coming in. So far they are responsible for $11,000 in medical costs, an amount that is likely to double by the time Dominic is born. That's not including flights, airfare, lodging, etc. Right now the plan is for Karen to move to the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. She and her mom and Amelia will be moving before the end of the year - moving their daughter away from home and away from her daddy before her first birthday. It's a sacrifice Mike and Karen are both making so that Dominic has the best chance at survival.
They wouldn't set this GoFundMe up themselves, but there is no question that they need help. Karen will be depleting her sick/vacation time which will affect their income. This year they purchased their first home. Any money raised will help pay medical bills and allow Karen to be in Philadelphia up until Dominic is born and until he can go home. This means so so much to our family.
We appreciate you sharing their story so that there can be one less burden on their shoulders. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate you fighting for Karen and Mike so they can continue to fight for their baby.....
We support each other. It's what family and friends do.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer Rezendes Methot
Organizer
Key West, FL
Karen Verri
Beneficiary