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Jahleel's Treatments

Many of you may or may not know this, but when Yesenia, my sister, was 13 weeks pregnant she went to the doctor for her regular visit. They did an ultrasound and we went home with the cute little picture of Baby Juma #3. Unfortunately, during that visit, the doctors noticed something wrong. After a few more visits, they diagnosed the baby with Hydrocephalus. What this means is that there is buildup of fluid in the cavities deep within his brain. Having Hydrocephalus can potentially lead to brain damage. Some doctors gave my sister hope while others made her think termination was the only answer, but like the amazing mother that she is, she did not give up. She stayed strong and learned everything she needed to know about Hydrocephalus. From 29-32 weeks she was in and out of the hospital due to a few complications. Through lots of prayers and support from friends and family, she made it to 34 weeks pregnant. At 34 weeks the doctors decided that it was best for her and the baby to do a C-Section. On November 1, 2017 at 11:36AM our little miracle, Jahleel Neziah, was born at 7lbs 1oz and 19 inches long. His head circumference was as expected by the doctors due to Hydrocephalus. From the moment we saw him, we knew he would be our little fighter. He went to the NICU immediately and was plugged into so many different machines that monitored all his vitals and helped him breathe. He seemed so fragile, but we all knew he was the strongest person we would ever meet.  Five days after he was born, the doctors decided to do a small surgery to put in a temporary reservoir which would let them manually take out the fluid in his brain. They couldn’t do the big surgery just yet, because he was still too small. Days and days went by and Jahleel’s development improved. He went off the feeding tube and was latching on to Mommy; they both worked very hard for him to get the best nutrition. Life was so different for the whole family, while Mommy and Daddy spent all the time they could in the NICU. Big brothers, Nathan and Josiah, went to school and everyday life had to continue for them. They were not allowed in the NICU due to the regulations. A month went by and the doctors decided that Jahleel was finally big and strong enough for his big surgery. On December 1, 2017, Jahleel had his big surgery to put in a shunt. The shunt is a permanent device that is inserted into the brain to drain the fluid from the brain into another part of the body where it can properly be absorbed. The surgery went great, but unfortunately, a couple days later, we hit another bump in the road. He had another small procedure in his throat, just a few days after his surgery. Like the little warrior that he is, he recovered perfectly from it. Jahleel is still improving in the NICU as I write this. We are praying he continues to do great and that he is home before Christmas to surprise his brothers. While looking up information on Hydrocephalus, my sister found out that banking Jahleel’s cord blood can be very beneficial for him. The blood will be sent to Duke University Hospital where they conduct research on hydrocephalus. They do stem cell infusions that may help replace the cells that were damaged due to the pressure of the fluid on the head. Duke University Hospital is the only hospital in the entire country that conducts these treatments. My sister, Mike (dad) and Jahleel will need to fly out there for these treatments, and unfortunately, they aren’t covered under health insurance. These treatments are expensive which leads to why I am making this GoFundMe page. I am asking for any type of donation to help Jahleel get his treatments. On top of the cost of the treatments, that start at $7,500, they will need to get flights and a hotel, since they will need to be there for 3 days for the treatments. Not to mention the medical bills that are already piling up from his birth to the constant care he's needed since being born. My sister and Mike are two of the most hardworking parents and want to do the best they can to help Jahleel have a good and healthy life. We have prayed so much for Jahleel and thanks to God, he has made it this far. We are now just asking for help to continue this journey. We will forever be grateful for all your help. Thank you and God bless you all.
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Donations 

  • Frank Zalewski
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Lili Ana
Organizer
Chicago, IL

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