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Hello family, friends, and all,
On Saturday, June 4th, 2022 my great-nephew Arlo Leonel Oropeza was life flighted 300 miles from home to the Children’s Anschutz Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. He is the youngest of my niece Alyssa’s two sons and only one and a half years old. His parents are Alyssa and Daniel Oropeza. He has an older brother Emileo Daniel Oropeza (3).
In the days leading up to him having to be life flighted to another state, his parents had taken him to their local hospital Emergency Room THREE times. Always with the same things: vomiting, fevers, body stiffness, and finally seizures. No tests that the doctors were giving were able to detect what was happening with Arlo. Finally, someone thought to do a Lumbar Puncture (a spinal tap) test where a needle is placed into the lower back to measure the pressure in the spinal canal and brain. It was then they discovered that Arlo had an abnormal amount of fluid in both his spinal cord and brain. The diagnoses was a rare form of Bacterial Meningitis.
Meningitis is a swelling (inflammation) of the thin membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord. In a child, it may first cause a cold, sinus infection, or ear infection. It can then go into the bloodstream and reach the brain and spinal cord.
When he reached the Colorado hospital, he had a lot of fluid around his brain. They had trouble maintaining his temperature and his blood pressure. On Sunday, his father asked the doctors to be direct with them and tell them if they think that Arlo could make it out okay, their response was grim.
On Sunday, June 5th the parents put Arlo on the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) list. The most difficult decision for two beautiful hearted parents to have to make. However, after a few hours they decided to wait a few more days…. hoping and praying that God would send down a TRUE miracle. As a family, we were hoping and praying for the same miracle but as a mother and auntie, I was fervently praying that God would either give them back their son or at least give them the mercy of not having to make the hardest decision of their young lives. One that NO PARENT should ever have to make at any age.
Today, June 6th, after zero changes, they asked for a brain activity test. Around 3:00 pm, they performed one of the second tests needed. However, after the first test, it was clear that the second test would not be necessary. Arlo’s light was gone and with that…. came the final assurance that both the parents needed to let their baby boy go.
My heart is broken for my niece Alyssa, her husband Daniel, and for his big brother Emileo. Arlo, is his best friend. He will surely not understand where his baby brother is and when he is coming home. I can’t even begin to imagine the loss and pain they are going through and have yet to go through.
The last time I held my great-nephew Arlo, was on my 40th birthday. His normal demeanor is very sweet, but he always has a resting grumpy baby face. Like he’s wondering why in the world someone other than his parents, or grandparents, his Bela, or his Belo aren’t holding him. His face usually says it all. But on this day, a Sunday…. he let me hold him and he rested his sweet head on my shoulder and patted my back as I patted his.
So, for Arlo, for his parents and for my family, I come here asking for your help.
Being an entire state away, the only way I can feel helpful when mostly I am feeling helpless is to ask that Arlo’s family not be burdened by the financial stress that comes with such a GREAT LOSS and HEARTBREAK.
Whatever contribution you can make, little or small. It will be such a big help to them. And if all you can do is lift them in prayer, I know that they need that today and especially in the days to come too.
Thank you family, friends, and all.
Sincerely,
Arlo’s Great-Aunt Nani…. always.
Organizer
Natalia Link
Organizer
Independence, MO