My daughter Katy and her beloved Mathew have just received the news that their baby (Merit) has multiple cardiac defects that will require multiple surgeries/procedures beginning shortly after birth.

Katy will be induced on September 26th at UCD with the Pediatric Cardiology team in attendance. Baby Merit, we are told, could be hospitalized for up to 2 months initially and will have subsequent follow up surgeries.

Katy and Mathew's medical and living expenses are immediate and will be ongoing. We, as a family, are doing our best to support them, but their needs exceed what we can offer. We are asking, from our hearts to yours, for any support you may be able to offer them at this time.

Katy and Mathew are both very generous of spirit and are often ones to help others in need. I know both would be exceedingly grateful for your help at this time.

I am also trying to put a few teams together to help prepare for baby's homecoming. This will involve meals (they live in Dutch Flat), home cleaning (they have been overwhelmed with long distance appointments while meeting work commitments), pet care, and some home safety construction. If you have any of these skills or a desire to help in these areas, please contact me. (see below)

Thank you!.....each and every one of you for helping Katy and Mathew through these challenging times..... be that through your financial assistance, acts of service and/or words of support, love and, of course, your prayers. Beyond words.... this is appreciated deeply.

Katy's momma,

Lynn

In Katy's words:

".....three acronyms can hold the weight of the world. D-TGA, VSD, PS. Before August 31st, those letters would have meant nothing to me, now they circulate in my mind 24 hours a day. I find myself saying them over and over again. In my sleep, when I wake. Dextro-Transposition of the Greater Arteries, Ventricle Septal Defect and Pulmonary Stenosis.

Should I hide this from family and friends? I can't talk, my mind shuts down. I can't feel my legs as I walk down the hallway of UC Davis medical center, where I will deliver my son. My heart warrior.

Suddenly my world is narrowed, filled with medical terms, talks of surgeries and what this means for my baby's future. The tears choke me, I throw up repeatedly from stress, anxiety and fear. I can't sleep.

I see other moms with their babies and feel anger, jealously, grief, loss and sadness.

But then I remember, my baby chose me. I am strong, and like my sister told me, I have enough heart for the both of us.

So no, I won't hide from the world or hide my pain. I am proud to be his mommy, my unique and beautiful soul who chose me to be his champion, to be strong, and to hold his heart through this.

Our baby might have a rough start, he might need extra help and might be different than others growing up and as an adult, but he will be ours. Merit Daniel Derdzinski, my entire heart ❤️ I would find him, his soul in every lifetime, in every scenario, I would ALWAYS choose him".