Kenley JoLynn Cash

Michael Glavin is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Steven Cash.

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Kenley JoLynn Cash was born on November 27th at 2:31pm, weighing in at 4lbs 13oz and 16.9 inches long. She is a brave and strong little girl but Kenley and her beautiful family need your help. Here is her story and what you can do to help.

KENLEYS STORY:

At Courtney's 20 week appointment, it was discovered that Kenley had a heart defect, an AV Canal Defect and this would require a serious operation a few months after Kenley being born. While still processing this overwhelming news, it was also discovered that Kenley had a bowl blockage. This would also require surgery to repair. At Courtney's 32 week appointment, circumstances dictated that Courtney be transported via helicopter to Barnes-Jewish hospital in St. Louis for Kenley's birth. Once in St. Louis, things progressed very quickly. While in labor, Courtney's contractions began to cause Kenley's heart rate to drop, so it was decided that an immediate C-Section would be necessary. Kenley's birth went very well and she arrived in much better condition than expected.

Kenley was doing well enough that the bowl surgery was scheduled for a few days later. That surgery was successful and Kenley responded very well. Kenley progressed over the next few weeks and things were looking great. Then, unexpectedly, Kenley's health took an unfortunate turn.

Courtney received a call one morning around 3 a.m. that the nurses had discovered blood in her stool and stomach. Kenley also needed breathing assistance due to slowed breathing and on a few occasions had stopped breathing. They called for an X ray and discovered gas bubbles in her liver and in the lining of her intestinal wall. Kenley was diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis or NEC. The doctors seemed worried and determined she was at stage 2 and something needed to be done fast. All of Kenleys feedings were stopped as the doctors calculated what the best step would be for Kenleys health. After numerous attempts to begin IV's it was decided that Kenley would need an IO (an IV that is placed into the bone marrow). Unfortunately, the IO did not last and actually ended up filling her leg full of fluids causing it swell. They decided to re-intibate and prep Kenley for surgery to place a Broviac Catheter. The surgery was successful and the doctors started giving her fluids and antibiotics.

The next morning Kenley went in for another surgery for the necrotic bowl. The doctors had to remove 3cm of dead bowel and found some areas that looked questionable. The doctors chose to leave her two pieces of bowel apart and just stapled closed and wanted to go back in a couple days to re-examine and possibly reconnect her bowel the doctor had left apart. In the early AM 2 days later, Kenley clamped down on her intibation tube, and the nurses called a code. Kenley began to turn blue but the doctors were able to save her. This event was obviously very traumatic for Steven and Courtney. This is something no parent should have to see.

It was discovered that the event was caused by Kenley's lung collapsing. The cause of the lung collapse is still unknown. Over the next few days, Kenley stabilized and was able to have the second bowl surgery. The surgery went very well and her body responded.

As of now, Kenley is back on the upward climb. She has a lot of healing to do and many challenges to overcome. There is no certain timeline of when Kenley will get to come home, but the doctors are confident, short of a miracle, that it will not be anytime soon.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Steven and Courtney have spent most of the recent weeks living in St. Louis to be with Kenley. Steven has been able to return to work as Kenley's health allows but due to all of the unforseen circumstances, Steven had to take a significant amount of time off to care for Kenley.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL GO TOWARD:

1. Housing expenses for Steven and Courtney in STL

2. Food

3. Regularly occuring monthly bills

4. Accumulating medical bills