Martinez Baby’s ICU & Emergency Fund

My nephew’s little family was already struggling w/ sudden job loss and dire housing needs when their 3-month old son, Sehkai, had to be flown from Cheyenne to Children’s Hospital in Denver where he remains in the pediatric ICU and on a ventilator for RSV. It was a miracle the skilled Cheyenne medical staff was able to keep him alive long enough for flight-for-life to arrive (they had trouble stabilizing the baby enough to survive the flight, and then the first helicopter couldn’t fly due to mechanical issues).

Sehkai has terrible secretions and has struggled since arriving in Denver. Children’s Hospital has wonderful resources, but even with the baby’s grandmother (Christina Martinez) and I trying to keep them financially afloat, they are overwhelmed w/ the expenses of staying in Denver w/ their baby (who is not out of the woods and has a long road ahead of him) and meeting their basic needs when he does recover (they essentially have no safe home or working vehicle to return to at this point).

My nephew missed a promising job interview the morning after his son was flown to Denver and is frantically applying from the ICU, but even if he can secure something while holding vigil w/ his son, it will be a while before a paycheck comes in. He’s also working to get his wild-land firefighting training as he secures whatever employment he can during that process. He has a plan — but he is in a desperate situation due to a series of setbacks. The doctors have advised that the baby will need oxygen and dedicated care when he finally goes home and all long-term effects are unknown at this point, so his mom won’t be able to work until his care needs lessen.

Honestly, it’s embarrassing asking for help in this way, but after a couple friends nudged us, Christina and I decided to finally reach out for help on the baby and his family’s behalf.

Any funds raised that are not needed for Sehkai and his family’s emergency and most basic needs will be donated to Children’s Hospital. I am not exaggerating when I say that there’s an intubated baby w/ RSV everywhere you look in this pediatric ICU and overflow unit. Lord knows Children’s Hospital needs and deserves resources for a multitude of families in so many heartbreaking situations. It’s the most compassionate and wonderful place that no family wants to ever find themselves in.

If you are more comfortable donating directly to charity, a gift to the Children’s Hospital Foundation or Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation would make our hearts soar, too. We’ll forever be grateful to them both.

Above all, we thank you for your prayers and wish you peace, especially if you find yourself with heartache over the holidays.

God bless,

Jill & Christina on behalf of our sweet Sehkai