Baby Huntemann Fetoscopic Repair Surgery
Donation protected
My sister and brother in law, Raquel and Jared, learned at 18 weeks of pregnancy that my sweet niece has Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a condition in which the baby’s spine does not fully form during the first 28 days of gestation and can limit mobility in legs and feet. This is a birth defect that has no identified cause and can happen to any perfectly healthy parents with no genetic history of birth defects. The chances of this occurring is 1 in 1000 pregnancies.
Although Spina Bifida cannot be cured, science has come a very long way with treatment options even before the baby is born. The doctors at the Midwest Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis have evaluated Raquel and Baby H for a rare but amazing surgery, in-utero Fetoscopic repair, to close the hole in baby’s spine while she is still safe inside the womb. This surgery will not only save my niece’s life, but will ensure she has the best chance to have full mobility in her lower extremities after birth.
They have been accepted for the surgery, which will require Raquel to temporarily relocate to the Minneapolis area as she will need to stay under observation. This is a contingency of the surgery.
They learned that although Insurance will cover a good portion of the medical expenses, there are still some expenses related to the surgery that will not be covered by insurance and that long term housing assistance (Ronald McDonald House, etc.) will not be offered to them as a family due to COVID restrictions. My nephew, Easton, would not be allowed to live with them.
Many have reached out to ask about donations or how to help which is AMAZING! Prayers are #1 right now. However, donations to their Go Fund Me are absolutely appreciated in order to help Raquel and Jared ensure that my niece can receive care from the best medical professionals available to her, and also that they can stay together as a family as much as possible during the next several months. <3
Although Spina Bifida cannot be cured, science has come a very long way with treatment options even before the baby is born. The doctors at the Midwest Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis have evaluated Raquel and Baby H for a rare but amazing surgery, in-utero Fetoscopic repair, to close the hole in baby’s spine while she is still safe inside the womb. This surgery will not only save my niece’s life, but will ensure she has the best chance to have full mobility in her lower extremities after birth.
They have been accepted for the surgery, which will require Raquel to temporarily relocate to the Minneapolis area as she will need to stay under observation. This is a contingency of the surgery.
They learned that although Insurance will cover a good portion of the medical expenses, there are still some expenses related to the surgery that will not be covered by insurance and that long term housing assistance (Ronald McDonald House, etc.) will not be offered to them as a family due to COVID restrictions. My nephew, Easton, would not be allowed to live with them.
Many have reached out to ask about donations or how to help which is AMAZING! Prayers are #1 right now. However, donations to their Go Fund Me are absolutely appreciated in order to help Raquel and Jared ensure that my niece can receive care from the best medical professionals available to her, and also that they can stay together as a family as much as possible during the next several months. <3
Organizer and beneficiary
Celina Swartz
Organizer
Mukwonago, WI
Raquel Huntemann
Beneficiary