Nano-Preemie Velvett: NICU & The Hobson Family

Didn't expect this fundraiser to reach 6 months old, but here we are!
After 188 days (almost 27 weeks), which boils down to a whopping 6 months and a week, Velvett is finally due to come home on Monday, October 12th, 2020. He will be hooked to 2-3 devices at all times to eat and breathe comfortably as he grows. His adjusted age is hitting 3 months and he is meeting all his motor, social, and emotional milestones for his adjusted age. However, he failed his hearing test twice. It has been confirmed via ultrasound and via MRI that he does have a missing septum pendulum, the cartilage in the brain that regulates the feelings of hunger, sleep, and growth hormones. It is not necessary for a happy and healthy lifestyle with a schedule, however, growth hormones are, and this will be looked into by the beginning of November (updates will come accordingly).  He will also be getting a more extensive look on his hearing (as there could be many factors to a failed test, beyond deafness). Many nurses, as well as Dad and myself, have seen him react to sound, many times. He is still having follow-up appointments from his eye-injections and to see where he stands with his vision (but he can see, and reacts to faces, grabs for things, etc). He's over 10 pounds and growing beautifully.

Bills, home adjustment for Velvett's medical needs, travel needs, a toddler at home, and lack of income due to nonessential jobs during the COVID pandemic has left us pretty bled dry, financially, emotionally, and mentally, but we are persevering headstrong through this situation the best we can, with your support. 
Thank you to everyone who has helped encourage us, help us financially, and everyone who's given our family love, support, donations, and a sense of community during something so hard to handle, especially while we're dealing with some of humanity's hardships.

Some more recent photos of Velvett can be found below:


Dad got a great & rare photo of Velvett's smile!




Being intubated before his surgery for his feeding tube.




A much happier camper a few days after surgery.





Dad loves his youngest son!





Mommy loves her youngest son, too!





Final steps to coming home!



*Goal is not accurately depicted and I will follow GoFundMe and support group recommendations until more is found out about hospital costs, medical bills, at-home devices, surgeries, duration, and necessities for the Hobson family.*

Click here for a detailed version of the entire story  (and you can instead enjoy the convenience of the video I made, found in the link at the top of the story, which explains the essential parts of the journey). I worked very hard at both of these to be informative and precise, so thank you to all who take the time to listen and donate to our family. Everything counts when it comes from a place of love.

**PLEASE SHARE this story and a HUGE thank you to all who have donated.**



How It Helps:

My goal is subject to change and was just set due to the recommendation until I have a better gauge of how much insurance will and will not cover, the duration of his stay, and our financial hardships due to the pandemic (especially since he is still in the hospital and gaining bills). The need for this fundraiser is an urgency to us, as we need all the help we can get to be in a better place to regularly visit, care for, and financially plan our extremely premature son.

We're asking for any donations that are possible as we understand times are not just rough for us, financially, during this pandemic as Dad and I's work is not considered essential, leaving us out of work for almost 6 months. Velvett is due to come home shortly and will be hooked to 2 machines, at all times and we are experiencing financial hardship. Needless to say, we're feeling very vulnerable and fragile due to this. The money will go towards accommodating Velvett's needs with isolated medical care & devices. It will also go towards the help with his NICU bills as they're coming in (his insurance does not cover everything in his stay) to keep us from financial devastation. It will also go towards the ability to travel up to Velvett's frequent doctor's appointments (help to get a vehicle working). Last but not least, it will help the Hobson family be sustained with necessities for living during this time of extreme financial crises and personal emergency.




Our first meet before the hospital transfer


                                                                                            

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our family's story, donate and spread the support. Every penny counts, every supportive message, and every share really adds up and the community has been very compassionate, thus far. 

Updates and photos/videos on Velvett and our family will be left below as he stays and will be updated regularly.
Thank you all so much for keeping us encouraged and supported through this unimaginably difficult time.