Jumping for Jessica
Donation protected
My name is Jack Bataoel and I am REALTOR with Keller Williams in Bloomington, Illinois and also have a team in Tampa, Florida area. The Keller Williams culture promotes doing what we can to help our agents, families and communities. In the past, our KW agents and staff have stepped in to help in times of need. Over the past year, another need came to light. An agent in our office, Danell Moberly, had an assistant named Michelle Brase. Michelle also happens to be Danell's niece. Last Summer Michelle and Ryan were blessed with the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Jessica.
Here is Jessica's story from a recent fundraising champaign written by Danell:
How can you look into those big, bright, brown eyes and gorgeous eyelashes without falling in love instantly? I know, I couldn't either! This is my precious great niece, Jessica, and she is now one year old. She was born with tremors and was told it was due to an underdeveloped neuro system. So her first time parents, Ryan and Michelle, took her home. After 5 months, Jess was still not gaining enough weight and she cried the majority of time. Four months later, they were directed to see a GI doctor because of her digestive issues and found that she had been aspirating her milk into her lungs since she was born. This means she had been feeling like she was starving and suffocating for 5 straight months.
Close your eyes and picture your child crying night after night, day after day, and the helplessness you feel as you cannot figure out what is wrong? The endless crying, the sleepless nights, the pain in your heart, the bottomless pit in your stomach, your heart breaking each and every day because you can't soothe her and she can't tell you what she is feeling. Have you ever been so hungry it hurts? Have you ever not been able to catch your breath or choked and not been able to breathe? This is how Jess felt every single day for 150 days straight. What goes through your mind when the doctors realize what has been happening and share the news? Do you stand in disbelief or do you fall to your knees while crying uncontrollably? I wasn't there when the news was shared so I can only imagine the reaction. I can tell you I fell to my knees with my hands buried in my face while I cried uncontrollably as my heart shattered to pieces for Jessica and for my niece, Michelle and Ryan.
She now has a feeding tube which she may have the rest of her life. Luckily, the hospital ran additional tests as they had some additional concerns. Jess was also diagnosed with Microcephaly, Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), and Cerebral Palsy. Microcephaly is a syndrome where the brain stops growing and the head fuses together. She will have developmental delays, which is one of the reasons she has been having problems swallowing and now on a feeding tube. PCH has different levels of severity depending on which type she has. Insurance denied genetic testing which would tell them what type she has. Ryan and Michelle have appealed this ruling and just recently received the good news that it is now approved.
Children with PCH with have developmental delays and most will not be able to walk, talk, and most other things we take for granted, and they will be lucky to make it into their early adult life. It is so hard to think our precious sweet pea may not be here on this Earth with us for long. Honestly, it is unfathomable and my heart goes out to all the families that have gone through similar situations. Jess already has medical bills and she will have ongoing medical treatments with physical therapy, speech therapy, follow up testing, feeding tube, potential wheelchair, and she needs skilled nurse care instead of just a sitter. We are first and foremost asking for your support through prayers. Secondly, we are asking for any donations that can be used towards current unpaid medical bills and the upcoming bills. Your donations will not change the outcome, but it will help Jess get the best medical attention she needs and deserves and also will help relieve financial stress for Ryan and Michelle. PCH is an extremely rare disease so the doctors don't know how to treat it. So lastly, we are searching for any doctor who is willing to help, reasearch and try anything that could change the devasting outcome of this disease. If you know anyone who can help, please let us know. Our family is grateful for your support in whatever shape it comes in. No donation is too small. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Help spread the word! -Danell
To do my best to help Baby Jessica and her parents, I will be jumping out of plane on July 28 in Virginia. My wife Beth and her 75-year-old father, Jim will be jumping as well. The typical jump is around 10,000 feet. My goal is to raise $1 for each foot I'll be jumping! After reading Jessica's story, it is clear the need is great, but you can help! Please consider donating toward continued care for Jessica.
Here is Jessica's story from a recent fundraising champaign written by Danell:
How can you look into those big, bright, brown eyes and gorgeous eyelashes without falling in love instantly? I know, I couldn't either! This is my precious great niece, Jessica, and she is now one year old. She was born with tremors and was told it was due to an underdeveloped neuro system. So her first time parents, Ryan and Michelle, took her home. After 5 months, Jess was still not gaining enough weight and she cried the majority of time. Four months later, they were directed to see a GI doctor because of her digestive issues and found that she had been aspirating her milk into her lungs since she was born. This means she had been feeling like she was starving and suffocating for 5 straight months.
Close your eyes and picture your child crying night after night, day after day, and the helplessness you feel as you cannot figure out what is wrong? The endless crying, the sleepless nights, the pain in your heart, the bottomless pit in your stomach, your heart breaking each and every day because you can't soothe her and she can't tell you what she is feeling. Have you ever been so hungry it hurts? Have you ever not been able to catch your breath or choked and not been able to breathe? This is how Jess felt every single day for 150 days straight. What goes through your mind when the doctors realize what has been happening and share the news? Do you stand in disbelief or do you fall to your knees while crying uncontrollably? I wasn't there when the news was shared so I can only imagine the reaction. I can tell you I fell to my knees with my hands buried in my face while I cried uncontrollably as my heart shattered to pieces for Jessica and for my niece, Michelle and Ryan.
She now has a feeding tube which she may have the rest of her life. Luckily, the hospital ran additional tests as they had some additional concerns. Jess was also diagnosed with Microcephaly, Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), and Cerebral Palsy. Microcephaly is a syndrome where the brain stops growing and the head fuses together. She will have developmental delays, which is one of the reasons she has been having problems swallowing and now on a feeding tube. PCH has different levels of severity depending on which type she has. Insurance denied genetic testing which would tell them what type she has. Ryan and Michelle have appealed this ruling and just recently received the good news that it is now approved.
Children with PCH with have developmental delays and most will not be able to walk, talk, and most other things we take for granted, and they will be lucky to make it into their early adult life. It is so hard to think our precious sweet pea may not be here on this Earth with us for long. Honestly, it is unfathomable and my heart goes out to all the families that have gone through similar situations. Jess already has medical bills and she will have ongoing medical treatments with physical therapy, speech therapy, follow up testing, feeding tube, potential wheelchair, and she needs skilled nurse care instead of just a sitter. We are first and foremost asking for your support through prayers. Secondly, we are asking for any donations that can be used towards current unpaid medical bills and the upcoming bills. Your donations will not change the outcome, but it will help Jess get the best medical attention she needs and deserves and also will help relieve financial stress for Ryan and Michelle. PCH is an extremely rare disease so the doctors don't know how to treat it. So lastly, we are searching for any doctor who is willing to help, reasearch and try anything that could change the devasting outcome of this disease. If you know anyone who can help, please let us know. Our family is grateful for your support in whatever shape it comes in. No donation is too small. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Help spread the word! -Danell
To do my best to help Baby Jessica and her parents, I will be jumping out of plane on July 28 in Virginia. My wife Beth and her 75-year-old father, Jim will be jumping as well. The typical jump is around 10,000 feet. My goal is to raise $1 for each foot I'll be jumping! After reading Jessica's story, it is clear the need is great, but you can help! Please consider donating toward continued care for Jessica.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jack Bataoel
Organizer
Bloomington, IL
Michelle Brase
Beneficiary