Newborn in NICU - Help the Garcia family

My dear friends Angela Hernandez and Elmer Garcia recently gave birth to the beautiful little miss Baislee! But this sweet, tiny baby was born with a rare congenital disorder, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Instead of being able to go home and celebrate her first holidays with her family, she has spent her first tender weeks on earth in the NICU. At least she got her first visit from Santa!

Baislee is starting week 5 of life still in the NICU. After multiple abdomen and head ultrasounds, an MRI, a 1 hour EEG followed up by a 24 hour EEG the doctors found several issues.

Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum is characterized by all parts of the corpus callosum forming, but the entire structure being very thin or small. This is caused by a disruption of the development of the fetal brain. This disruption may be related to chromosome errors, genetic factors, prenatal infections, or other factors related to the prenatal environment. In some cases, intellectual disabilities may result, but intelligence may be only mildly impaired and subtle psychosocial symptoms may be present.

Out of the most common symptoms of hypoplasia of the corpus callosum that occur during infancy and childhood, Baislee is already presenting with 3 - poor feeding and difficulty swallowing, poor muscle tone and coordination, and insomnia or other sleeping problems. She is currently being tested for seizures and additional brain dysfunctions.

In addition to her diagnosis of hypoplasia of the corpus collasum she was diagnosed with three holes in her heart. Two of which are developmentally appropriate; however, the third is under further observation for potential future cardiac related complications. Baislee was also born with hydronephrosis of the kidney which makes her high risk for urinary tract infections and requires constant monitoring.

Upon discharge, Baislee will need to be followed by pediatric neurologists, urologists, cardiologist, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

Angela has exhausted her maternity leave from her full-time job and is now on medical leave to care for their family, which is unpaid leave. Elmer is a small business owner in the community and receives the majority of his income as an independent contractor for jobs he works, which he has been unable to do as he is also needed to care for their family, which also includes an adorable one-year-old daughter, Preslee. Angela and Elmer have spent the holidays apart and unable to work, as they take turns staying with Baislee in the NICU or taking care of Preslee at home.

The funds raised will be used to keep the family afloat until Baislee is allowed to go home and the Garcias can return to work. Anything helps! Thank you!!