Piper's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Family members and close friend suggested I share my nieces story and seek support from friends, family and strangers on behalf of her parents Leanna and Michael. Please know that asking for any type of monetary assistance was a tough decision that they both wrestled with for quite some time. Although they initially did not feel comfortable with me starting any sort of fundraising campaign, it has now reached a point where they are running out of options. As a family they have never needed support like they do now.
Piper had a tonsillectomy performed on 8/19/16 along with tear duct surgery. This shouldn't have been a problem thousands of these procedures happen every day. Everything went well recovery was a little hard on her. She let her mommy hold her and she could tell her throat was hurting but this is normal. Piper, mommy and daddy were taken to her room in the Pediatric ICU at Dell Children's Hospital so the medical staff could watch her since she's had oxygen level concerns from previous stays. They wanted her to try and swallow a liquid and keep it down. Piper did not want to she just wanted to sleep and be cuddled still this can happen. Fast forward to 22 hours after surgery Piper and her family’s entire world changed. Her daddy Michael stayed overnight with Piper and kept updating her mommy at work. He called every 30mins her oxygen levels were dropping at an alarming rate. They had to put a breathing tube down Piper's throat and giver her sedation meds to keep her completely calm and still. Piper had to be put on an ECMO machine in order to give her a chance to live. It did the work of her heart and lungs to give hers a rest. This pumped blood around her heart and lungs. Her lungs were completely whited out. She was only on ECMO for a week. She was on heparin and unfortunately this was causing severe bleeding. She had to have emergency surgery on 8/28/2016. The doctor packed her throat and cauterized her tonsil site due to the scaring from her tonsillectomy. Her kidneys never failed they were just sick so she had to be on dialysis for about a week. Then she finally started peeing on her own this was a great sign. Her lungs are still completely weak she is not out of the woods. The removal of the cannula in her neck has also been done as well. The team of doctors are now talking about possibly performing a tracheostomy next week to put in a trach tube. Piper has been on a ventilator and very snowed under for this entire time. This has been extremely tiring and stressful for her mommy, daddy, grandma's, grandpa and our entire family!
Piper is going to need physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and rehab while in the hospital when her lungs are strong enough to be taken completely off sedation. And will continue to need it once they are all home as a family again. As well as they also may be going home on oxygen and a trach. Piper has a very long journey ahead of her. She is truly a fighter!!!
Our hearts are already overwhelmed from the love and well wishes our entire family have received throughout this difficult journey, and we cannot thank you enough for any assistance that you would be willing to contribute. Any small amount counts, and will help them get through this very tough time. It is unimaginable the pain they are going through having to be in a hospital with their baby girl night and day. They are staying the Ronald McDonald House that is right next door so that they are not far from her. We all know that medical care is very costly and any support that we can provide will be greatly appreciated by them and help them more than imaginable. A separate donation will also be made to the Ronald McDonald House as well as sending the entire ICU Floor staff a nice Edible Arrangement when Piper returns home.
Piper had a tonsillectomy performed on 8/19/16 along with tear duct surgery. This shouldn't have been a problem thousands of these procedures happen every day. Everything went well recovery was a little hard on her. She let her mommy hold her and she could tell her throat was hurting but this is normal. Piper, mommy and daddy were taken to her room in the Pediatric ICU at Dell Children's Hospital so the medical staff could watch her since she's had oxygen level concerns from previous stays. They wanted her to try and swallow a liquid and keep it down. Piper did not want to she just wanted to sleep and be cuddled still this can happen. Fast forward to 22 hours after surgery Piper and her family’s entire world changed. Her daddy Michael stayed overnight with Piper and kept updating her mommy at work. He called every 30mins her oxygen levels were dropping at an alarming rate. They had to put a breathing tube down Piper's throat and giver her sedation meds to keep her completely calm and still. Piper had to be put on an ECMO machine in order to give her a chance to live. It did the work of her heart and lungs to give hers a rest. This pumped blood around her heart and lungs. Her lungs were completely whited out. She was only on ECMO for a week. She was on heparin and unfortunately this was causing severe bleeding. She had to have emergency surgery on 8/28/2016. The doctor packed her throat and cauterized her tonsil site due to the scaring from her tonsillectomy. Her kidneys never failed they were just sick so she had to be on dialysis for about a week. Then she finally started peeing on her own this was a great sign. Her lungs are still completely weak she is not out of the woods. The removal of the cannula in her neck has also been done as well. The team of doctors are now talking about possibly performing a tracheostomy next week to put in a trach tube. Piper has been on a ventilator and very snowed under for this entire time. This has been extremely tiring and stressful for her mommy, daddy, grandma's, grandpa and our entire family!
Piper is going to need physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and rehab while in the hospital when her lungs are strong enough to be taken completely off sedation. And will continue to need it once they are all home as a family again. As well as they also may be going home on oxygen and a trach. Piper has a very long journey ahead of her. She is truly a fighter!!!
Our hearts are already overwhelmed from the love and well wishes our entire family have received throughout this difficult journey, and we cannot thank you enough for any assistance that you would be willing to contribute. Any small amount counts, and will help them get through this very tough time. It is unimaginable the pain they are going through having to be in a hospital with their baby girl night and day. They are staying the Ronald McDonald House that is right next door so that they are not far from her. We all know that medical care is very costly and any support that we can provide will be greatly appreciated by them and help them more than imaginable. A separate donation will also be made to the Ronald McDonald House as well as sending the entire ICU Floor staff a nice Edible Arrangement when Piper returns home.
Organizer and beneficiary
Patty Mroz Popp
Organizer
West Dundee, IL
Leanna Constanzo
Beneficiary