In August, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy Beckett, he is truly our greatest joy. Unfortunately, he entered the world facing challenges we never expected.

Shortly after birth, we learned he had suffered moderate to severe kidney damage caused by congenital hydronephrosis (the swelling of the kidneys due to urine buildup). At just 36 hours old, his condition became critical, and he required emergency, life-saving ureterostomy surgery. What we thought would be a joyful newborn period quickly turned into a two-week stay in the NICU, filled with uncertainty, fear, and countless medical decisions.

When we were finally able to bring him home, our journey was far from over. Because of his condition, he currently uses ostomy bags to collect urine, which means diapering and daily care look very different for us. At this time, his ureterostomies mean that his urine is diverted through two small stomas on his abdomen rather than through typical urination. We take great care to keep his stomas clean, as he is at high risk for serious urinary tract infections, and every day revolves around protecting his kidney function and keeping him healthy.

In October, he underwent a cystoscopy to help doctors determine how best to preserve his kidney function and work toward a future where he can urinate normally. Following this procedure, his blood work revealed severely abnormal electrolyte levels, and he was immediately admitted to the PICU. His potassium levels were dangerously high, and he was labeled failure to thrive due to his weight. What was meant to be an outpatient procedure unexpectedly turned into a four-day hospital stay.

Due to the extent of the damage his kidneys sustained, our baby is now living with chronic kidney disease. His left kidney has very low functionality, and while the focus is on preserving as much kidney health as possible, his doctors anticipate that he will likely need his left kidney removed in the future. This means Beckett’s medical journey will be lifelong, requiring continued monitoring, procedures, and specialized care.

We have learned that his case is considered complex and uncommon, and in just a few weeks, he will undergo another cystoscopy and surgery with the hope of reversing his ureterostomies and taking a major step forward in his care.

Beckett’s care team was originally located in Baltimore, over an hour away for us, which meant frequent long drives, time off work for Brian, and additional travel related expenses on top of medical costs, which just added to the strain. We recently switched his care to a closer hospital, only 40 minutes away.

While we are deeply grateful for our incredibly skilled doctors and what modern medicine can do, the financial burden has been overwhelming for us. Even with very good (and expensive) health insurance, his medical bills have accumulated faster than we can manage, with some already going to collections.

We never imagined needing this kind of help, but we’re grateful for the kindness and support of those willing to walk beside us during this difficult time.

We created this GoFundMe to help cover medical bills related to his surgeries, hospitalizations, procedures, ongoing care, and travel expenses. Any support, whether through a donation, sharing this page, or keeping our family in your prayers, truly means more than we can express.

Thank you for listening to Beckett’s story and for helping us focus on what matters most, giving our baby the healthiest future possible.

Love,

Aubrey & Brian