Hope and Healing for Baby Novah
Baby Novah’s Story (as told by her Nana)
My daughter is 31 weeks pregnant with her little girl Novah.
We discovered Novah has CDH (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia) at 20 weeks and she was given a 70% chance at life.
After weekly appointments in Victoria BC, my daughter was referred to BC Children’s Hospital Vancouver where we have been going for appointments on a weekly basis.
Novah’s stomach and 3/4 of her liver have been pushed up into her chest through the hernia (the hole) and they continue to put pressure on her heart and especially her lungs.The only machine that can help with Novah’s lungs once she is born is in Vancouver. Novah’s team of specialists have provided an update as of this week: Novah now has been given a 50% chance of surviving as her lungs have no room to grow.
My daughter will have to relocate to Vancouver January 3rd to be close to the hospital for her daily appointments and for her and Novah’s surgeries to take place. Prior to the January move date, the doctors at BC Children’s will closely monitor Novah’s growth & health which requested weekly overnight trips to Vancouver from Victoria.
My daughter is afraid, scared and so overwhelmed.
They also have a soon-to-be-two year old son who has also been back and forth to many hospital appointments and will be relocating with them to Vancouver in early January.
We have faith and hope that our little Novah star will fight as hard as she can to be with us, just as much as we will fight to keep her safe so we can bring her home one day and watch her grow up like her big brother.
We thank you deeply for your prayers and kindness.
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The costs of travelling back and forth for appointments at BC Children’s Hospital are high, as well as the cost of overnight accommodation each week on a long-term basis. Novah’s family will also have to relocate to Vancouver in early 2020, and then find a home for a few months while she is in hospital. The family is actively looking into options for staying at Ronald McDonald House, Easter Seals or other, so we’re hopeful that will work out. They are also looking into the Travel Assistance Program for the ferry trips.
Novah’s Dad is in the Navy, and unfortunately has limited job flexibility at this time due to his specialized skills and training. This means that he is unable to take an extended leave from work, and this adds an additional element and stressor onto this already stressful and complicated situation.
Any support you are able to offer this wonderful family is greatly appreciated. We are hoping to rally a network of support and love around them to help make this tough road they are currently on just a little bit more manageable.
