Please donate to help Baby Hazel

Hazel Grace Darling was born on July 28th at 1:37 at Vassar Brothers Hospital. Erik and Cassandra were in awe when Miss Hazel arrived in the world. When the nurses took Hazel right after birth, they realized something was wrong. Hazel started to turn color, and the medical staff could not get successful intubation and trachea suction. They quickly learned that there was some sort of blockage. Shortly after mom and dad held their newborn, they were told by a doctor that baby Hazel had what is called a tracheoesophageal fistula, where her esophagus and trachea were attached. Due to her condition, Baby Hazel would need surgery, but unfortunately, there are no pediatric surgeons at Vassar. She would need to be airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for surgery. Mom and Dad didn't even have a minute to process everything happening, and before they knew it, their baby girl was airlifted to a different hospital. Separating Cassandra and her newborn was a traumatic experience that no parent should go through.

The next day, Hazel received many tests, pokes, and exams. While Cassandra was in the process of being discharged from Vassar, they received a phone call from a surgeon at Westchester Medical Center, explaining that he wanted to perform immediate surgery on Hazel and did not want to wait. After a long 6 hours, the surgeon came out of the OR and told them that Hazel did great. He explained the recovery time and the long-term effects, which were going to be up to Miss Hazel and how she recovered. She has already endured so much in her few days of life.

Erik and Cass have been traveling back and forth or staying in a hotel near the hospital. Not only are they dealing with baby Hazel, but they also want to provide an uninterrupted lifestyle for their 4-year-old daughter Abigail. Trying to balance everything at once has been stressful.

Erik and Cassandra are paying for hotel expenses, food, gas to travel from Poughkeepsie to Westchester, medical costs, and may have to pay for the long-term effects of this surgery. Please consider donating any amount to help these wonderful people and their beautiful daughter.