Supporting baby Nolan

Timothy Nolan Wayne Rinker (Nolan) was born on February 11th at 2:19pm. He was 4 weeks early and weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces, 19 inches long. Nolan is named after his grandfather Timothy Wayne Rinker who unexpectedly passed before Nolan’s appearance.

Very early on in the pregnancy it was detected that Nolan would be high risk but a diagnosis wasn't confirmed until late in the 2nd trimester. In between that time Doctors could not verify if Nolan would survive. An amniocentesis finally determined Nolan’s diagnosis of Apert Syndrome. He was followed closely by a team of specialists at Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus throughout the pregnancy and at 32 weeks transferred to be monitored more closely due to polyhydramnios and the high risk of preterm labor. He was born at 36 weeks.

Nolan has a magnitude of symptoms caused by the syndrome. His severe conditions include craniosynostosis (premature fusion of bones in the skull), syndactyly (webbed fingers/toes), and choanal atresia (parts of the nose not forming properly before birth). He has overcome breathing and feeding support and had 3 surgeries to date. He will need numerous surgeries in the near future and later in childhood, along with continual physical and occupational therapy.

Nolan’s stay at the Children's Hospital started long before he was born and he is still admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. All proceeds will go to Nolan for his procedures, care, and support. The family thanks you in advance.