Dreux's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Baby Dreux is the son of Sarah Brady Cook and Brad Cook. Dreux is their second son; this story actually begins with their first son Brody. Brody was born very early and spent 18 days in the NICU. He is now a healthy three year old, but his elongated hospital stay left the family with a $7000.00 bill.
There was a bump noticed on Dreux's head during pregnancy. Upon birth, Dreux was seen by specialist in the field. The bump turned out to be a condition called Craniosynostosis. The normal skull consists of several plates of bone that are separated by sutures. The sutures (fibrous joints) are found between the bony plates in the head. As the infant grows and develops, the sutures close, forming a solid piece of bone, called the skull. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance. Most babies born with this condition have elongated heads, their bones fuse in an outward fashion. Even more rare is Dreux's closure, it is inward, which reduces the cavity that the brain can develop into.
All of the tests, and doctors opinions have determined that Dreux should have his first surgery sometime this August-September. They want to wait until he is 6-8 months old. All surgeries, especially on babies have a certain risk, Dreux's is extremely risky because with his bones fusing inward, they will be operating very near his brain stem. First request: please pray for Dreux.
The Cook Family
Both Sarah and Brad are high school teachers in Central Florida. Sarah is a college/career counselor at Auburndale High School. Brad is an ESE teacher at Haines City High School, as well as a basball coach at Polk State College. They both strated their teaching careers in New York as ESE tachers. (The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to students with special needs.) They moved to Florida and both have taught for a total of eleven years. Sarah and Brad's lives have been in the pursuit of helping to educate our children, ranging from the ESE students all the way up to students seeking to pursue a college degree. They embody what is great about teachers. As you should know, teachers are not paid well, especially in Central Florida. Their passion to help educate our children, our grandchildren, is why I am seeking your support.
The Need
The surgery that the family faces in August will carry a bill estimated between 150,000 and 200,000 dollars. Their insurance is a typical 80/20 split. If Dreux's surgery is very successful, he will probably need another surgery at age five, to further reshape the cranial cavity. Sadly, some babies born with this condition have had upwards to six surgeries. As I write this, and you read this, I am overwhelmed with emotion.... what a rough passage they have in front of them.
We cannot remove the emotional pain they are facing, but we can relieve them of the impossible financial burden they face.
All of us have an obligation of helping others in need. I wish, probably like you, that I could volunteer to take Dreux's place for the surgery, in my world, no baby should be facing surgery.
The next steps we can/ must take.
1. Hold Dreux and his family, in your thoughts and prayers.
2. Please donate to this Go Fund Me Account, established to help Dreux's Medical Costs.
3. To all, please like and share this page with all your FB friends. Together we can reach 100,000 people all joined through FB. To all the students, who Sarah, Brad and I have worked with through the years, please give what you can, and talk with your parents, grandparents, about donating.
4. To all the teachers, please find a way to donate, it all adds up.
5. Finally, after you give, please personnaly challenge at least five people to help the Cook family. Select from your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, your teachers etc.
$22,000 is a lot of money, yet we only need 220 people to donate $100. Understand, that all donations matter, regardless of size, show your support to these great teachers.
For those uncomfortable about online payments, please contact Sarah Brady Cook directly. at sarah.cook@polk-fl.net, she will give you additional directions.
Thank You in advance, Kevin Dunn
There was a bump noticed on Dreux's head during pregnancy. Upon birth, Dreux was seen by specialist in the field. The bump turned out to be a condition called Craniosynostosis. The normal skull consists of several plates of bone that are separated by sutures. The sutures (fibrous joints) are found between the bony plates in the head. As the infant grows and develops, the sutures close, forming a solid piece of bone, called the skull. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance. Most babies born with this condition have elongated heads, their bones fuse in an outward fashion. Even more rare is Dreux's closure, it is inward, which reduces the cavity that the brain can develop into.
All of the tests, and doctors opinions have determined that Dreux should have his first surgery sometime this August-September. They want to wait until he is 6-8 months old. All surgeries, especially on babies have a certain risk, Dreux's is extremely risky because with his bones fusing inward, they will be operating very near his brain stem. First request: please pray for Dreux.
The Cook Family
Both Sarah and Brad are high school teachers in Central Florida. Sarah is a college/career counselor at Auburndale High School. Brad is an ESE teacher at Haines City High School, as well as a basball coach at Polk State College. They both strated their teaching careers in New York as ESE tachers. (The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to students with special needs.) They moved to Florida and both have taught for a total of eleven years. Sarah and Brad's lives have been in the pursuit of helping to educate our children, ranging from the ESE students all the way up to students seeking to pursue a college degree. They embody what is great about teachers. As you should know, teachers are not paid well, especially in Central Florida. Their passion to help educate our children, our grandchildren, is why I am seeking your support.
The Need
The surgery that the family faces in August will carry a bill estimated between 150,000 and 200,000 dollars. Their insurance is a typical 80/20 split. If Dreux's surgery is very successful, he will probably need another surgery at age five, to further reshape the cranial cavity. Sadly, some babies born with this condition have had upwards to six surgeries. As I write this, and you read this, I am overwhelmed with emotion.... what a rough passage they have in front of them.
We cannot remove the emotional pain they are facing, but we can relieve them of the impossible financial burden they face.
All of us have an obligation of helping others in need. I wish, probably like you, that I could volunteer to take Dreux's place for the surgery, in my world, no baby should be facing surgery.
The next steps we can/ must take.
1. Hold Dreux and his family, in your thoughts and prayers.
2. Please donate to this Go Fund Me Account, established to help Dreux's Medical Costs.
3. To all, please like and share this page with all your FB friends. Together we can reach 100,000 people all joined through FB. To all the students, who Sarah, Brad and I have worked with through the years, please give what you can, and talk with your parents, grandparents, about donating.
4. To all the teachers, please find a way to donate, it all adds up.
5. Finally, after you give, please personnaly challenge at least five people to help the Cook family. Select from your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, your teachers etc.
$22,000 is a lot of money, yet we only need 220 people to donate $100. Understand, that all donations matter, regardless of size, show your support to these great teachers.
For those uncomfortable about online payments, please contact Sarah Brady Cook directly. at sarah.cook@polk-fl.net, she will give you additional directions.
Thank You in advance, Kevin Dunn
Organizer and beneficiary
Kevin Dunn
Organizer
Auburndale, FL
Sarah Cook
Beneficiary
