Jeff and Morgan Wood
Donation protected
As many of you know there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Wood family right now and the special care that their daughter Birdie will need. Many people have inquired about contributing financially to the family and although continued prayers for the health of baby Birdie remain the top priority, at this time, financial gifts would be a huge blessing and a tangible way to show the Woods your love and support.
Morgan has spent the last seven plus weeks at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, which is two hours away from their home. Jeff has had to travel to and from the hospital every week so that he could tend to Morgan’s needs and tend to daily life back home in East Texas.
They have managed over that time, but now that sweet Birdie has arrived things are about to get more complicated. Because of her syndrome, Peters Plus, and the fact she was born pre-term, Birdie will likely spend weeks (possibly months) in the Presby NICU. There will be a lot of consulting with specialists as well while Birdie grows there.
This is going to be a long journey for their family. There will be additional living expenses, travel expenses (Jeff still has to work over two hours away), and food expenses to their budget.
Even more important is the financial assistance the family may need to ensure Birdie gets the appropriate medical care she needs going forward. Obviously, while she is in the NICU they will monitor her for any health related issues, but right now we know that she has a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. Due to her clefts she will immediately need special bottles and pacifiers to help her feed. Then, in the near future, she will need to undergo multiple surgeries with plastic surgeons to repair the lip and palate so that she can learn to eat and speak.
Another huge concern for the Wood family is Birdie’s eye sight. Children with PPS almost alway have issues with their eyes that often require multiple surgeries from a young age. The degree of these problems can range from mild to severe. Although we will continue to pray that she falls into the mild category, Jeff and Morgan have to prepare for the alternative. This means (at the very least) multiple consultations with Pediatric Ophthalmologists, both in Texas and around the country, who have dealt with children who’ve been diagnosed with Peters Plus or Peters Anomaly. These expenses may include extra travel and lodging expenses depending on where the top specialists reside.
Thankfully, the Wood family has insurance, but despite that, the “out-of-pocket expenses” are high and will more than likely have to be paid for years to come. Further, there will be additional care that Birdie will require (physical therapy, speech therapy, etc) that insurance may not cover. The goal is to make sure that Birdie girl has whatever it is she needs in order to ensure she has the greatest quality of life possible.
The journey of taking care of Birdie is sure to be challenging at times. If you know the Wood family then you know they will do everything in their power to make sure their little blessing has what she needs. Still, any assistance by their extended support system (the “bird watchers”) will, if nothing else, help in this endeavor
Thank you in advance for anything that you can give. Believe me, they are humbled by your prayers and thoughtfulness, and sincerely appreciate your support more than you could ever know.
Morgan has spent the last seven plus weeks at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, which is two hours away from their home. Jeff has had to travel to and from the hospital every week so that he could tend to Morgan’s needs and tend to daily life back home in East Texas.
They have managed over that time, but now that sweet Birdie has arrived things are about to get more complicated. Because of her syndrome, Peters Plus, and the fact she was born pre-term, Birdie will likely spend weeks (possibly months) in the Presby NICU. There will be a lot of consulting with specialists as well while Birdie grows there.
This is going to be a long journey for their family. There will be additional living expenses, travel expenses (Jeff still has to work over two hours away), and food expenses to their budget.
Even more important is the financial assistance the family may need to ensure Birdie gets the appropriate medical care she needs going forward. Obviously, while she is in the NICU they will monitor her for any health related issues, but right now we know that she has a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. Due to her clefts she will immediately need special bottles and pacifiers to help her feed. Then, in the near future, she will need to undergo multiple surgeries with plastic surgeons to repair the lip and palate so that she can learn to eat and speak.
Another huge concern for the Wood family is Birdie’s eye sight. Children with PPS almost alway have issues with their eyes that often require multiple surgeries from a young age. The degree of these problems can range from mild to severe. Although we will continue to pray that she falls into the mild category, Jeff and Morgan have to prepare for the alternative. This means (at the very least) multiple consultations with Pediatric Ophthalmologists, both in Texas and around the country, who have dealt with children who’ve been diagnosed with Peters Plus or Peters Anomaly. These expenses may include extra travel and lodging expenses depending on where the top specialists reside.
Thankfully, the Wood family has insurance, but despite that, the “out-of-pocket expenses” are high and will more than likely have to be paid for years to come. Further, there will be additional care that Birdie will require (physical therapy, speech therapy, etc) that insurance may not cover. The goal is to make sure that Birdie girl has whatever it is she needs in order to ensure she has the greatest quality of life possible.
The journey of taking care of Birdie is sure to be challenging at times. If you know the Wood family then you know they will do everything in their power to make sure their little blessing has what she needs. Still, any assistance by their extended support system (the “bird watchers”) will, if nothing else, help in this endeavor
Thank you in advance for anything that you can give. Believe me, they are humbled by your prayers and thoughtfulness, and sincerely appreciate your support more than you could ever know.
Organiser and beneficiary
Jessi Stone Reel
Organiser
Bullard, TX
Jeff Wood
Beneficiary