Helping Matthew

On August 20th Danny and Kate Welch were blessed with their son Matthew. While he is otherwise healthy, he was born with a rare condition called bladder extrophy. This condition happens 1 in 50,000 births. Bladder Extrophy is a rare birth defect in which the bladder develops outside the fetus. The exposed bladder can't store urine or function normally, resulting in urine leakage (incontinence). Problems caused by bladder exstrophy vary in severity. Thankfully, bladder extrophy is treatable with surgery. During Matthew’s time in the NICU at Christ Hospital Danny and Kate spoke to pediatric urologists, along with many nurses well educated on this type of condition, who advised surgery is the best option for Matthew. They have been connected to the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee and their urology/bladder extrophy team. Surgery is scheduled for November 15th. Danny and Kate will be making multiple trips back and forth from Oak Forest, IL to Milwaukee due to having a 2 year old son at home to care for as well making it impossible for both parents to be with Matthew full time as he recovers in the PICU. After the surgery Matthew will have to go back for appointments monthly-this is a life long condition. Kate and Danny (both teachers) do not get paid time off and Kate has exhausted the majority of her time due to maternity leave, which will impact them greatly financially.

Due to the expense of surgery, cost of travel, continued care and needing time off work, we are asking for help. Thank you so much for taking the time to read a little about Matthew and for considering a donation. Danny and Kate are so very grateful.