Medical and living expenses for Shanda and Greg
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Hello, My name is Yekaterina. I am reaching out to ask for help with fundraising for my brother, Greg and his wife, Shanda, as they face long-term NICU stays and accumulating costs associated with the health complications of micro-preemie twins.
When building a family, it's impossible to prepare for every hurdle. Unfortunately, this year has brought unpredictable and life-altering grief, joy, fear, and uncertainty. After a traumatic first pregnancy ending in loss this year, Shanda and Greg were blessed with a twin pregnancy. However, they weren’t able to enjoy an easy and carefree pregnancy. From the first trimester, it was extremely high risk with many complications. Nothing could have prepared Shanda to be admitted to the hospital on October 19th at just 25 weeks gestation.
TWIN B (Brooke) was diagnosed with umbilical cord blood issues at 21 weeks of pregnancy. At 25, it had progressed to complete absent umbilical cord blood flow and intermittent reverse blood flow, as well as IUGR(Intrauterine growth restriction). These complications placed her growth on a scale of lowest 1%. My brother didn't leave his wife's side for the next six weeks as she underwent round-the-clock monitoring and ultrasounds. They were living from one day to the next, looking up survival statistics and complications of preterm birth every passing week, as both diagnoses could turn fatal at any moment.
At birth, Brooke was 1.94 pounds and dropped to 1.76 pounds. Being a Micro Preemie, Brooke was placed on a *72-hour No Contact No Holding* due to the high risk of intraventricular hemorrhage, brain bleeds and aneurysm, heart failure, and additional mortality possibilities. Brooke also had severe breathing retractions and cloudy lungs and required a 24-7 breathing machine and complete incubation. She is on humidity control due to her fragile skin.
TWIN A (Maeve) was also IUGR. She was in the 2nd percentile for growth at birth, weighing just 2.7 pounds. Maeve was also placed on a *72-hour No Contact Holding*, which has been extended for an unknown time due to a high risk of intraventricular hemorrhage; brain bleeds and aneurysm, heart failure, and additional mortality possibilities.
After being born, they now face new and fatal complications, which could turn deadly at any moment. During the emergency C-section, Maeve's liver was punctured when the NICU Team placed an umbilical venous catheter through her umbilical insertion. Her little abdomen became severely distended as it was continuously filled with nutritional fluids (TPN) since birth, and fluid was built up in her abdominal cavity.
This mistake additionally caused: Severe dehydration, jaundice, kidney failure, graying of her skin localized on her abdomen, severe inflammation of her intestines, high electrolytes and enzymes, currently ruling out if she had or has any bowl rupture or intestinal necrosis. As a result, an automatic suction tube was placed in her stomach to suction out the accumulated reverse bile and bowl meconium that had been backing out into her stomach. Maeve's blood pressure is also experiencing alarming change, with the specialized Neonatologists adding additional antibiotics and narcotic medication for her pain.
As a first-time mom, Shanda should be in maternal bliss, getting to bond and bask in the joys of motherhood times 2. Instead, she struggles to heal from her traumatizing child loss pre-pregnancy, high-risk pregnancy, maternal health issues that arose during pregnancy and post-partum journey of being a NICU mom to micro preemies who now fight for their life.
Her husband, Greg, has been able to stay by her side the entire journey and has proven to be an enormous pillar of support, dedication, and sacrifice to help Shanda and their babies as they all navigate this arduous traumatizing process.
However, Greg, Shanda, Brooke, and Maeve still face a long journey of unknowns in which things can change quickly. They still have many months of NICU living. They continue to be hopeful given the situation; they are looking forward to graduating from the NICU and going home as a family of four with their beloved Angel Baby, Brave protecting them all.
As a sole provider, having been out of work as a long-haul heavy haul truck driver to stay by his wife's bedside, savings are close to exhausted, and hospital bills are mounting. Trucking takes Greg away for weeks at a time, which is unimaginable during a time when things could change without notice. Please consider sharing their story; any donation means a hardworking and dedicated new father is there for his family through this ordeal. Thank you.
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Organizer
YEKATERINA BOICHENKO
Organizer
Yelm, WA
