Support Sidney

As most of all of my family and friends know, Sidney was born 8 weeks early on September 4th 2015, due to my waterbag breaking at 18 weeks. He was born at 32 weeks, weighing 4Lbs 4oz  and 17 inches long. He came out fighting for his life but soon had to be intubated and was on the second highest powered vent for a month. He was then weaned to a conventional vent, then to cpap, then to high flow. He stayed at high flow for some time before they decided to start bottle feeding. He was finally discharged on Dec. 2nd. He was in the NICU for 89 days.  The entire total of days we dealt with Womens & Children's was 149 days. Before I moved into the hospital, I was on bedrest for 40 days. So in total it has been 189 days of fighting for Sidney's life. When we got pregnant, we had no intentions of having a sick child. I don't think anyone plans to have unhealthy children, but sadly Sidney had to fight for his. Our family is in serious financial need, because as we all know, hospitals are expensive. Sidney came home on oxygen so we also have the added expense of paying for the medical equipment monthly. He is also on a monthly asthma medication that the pulmonologist has prescribed for him, which isn't cheap even with insurance.  

Sidney isn't able to attend daycare because with his underdeveloped lungs and poor immune system, a cold/flu/RSV could send him back to the hospital and possibly back on a ventilator. I've decided to take time off (FMLA allows for 12 weeks) to stay home with Sidney in the hopes that he can be off of oxygen some time after January. I don't have much leave time to use in order to stay home with him for the maximum of 12 weeks, so I will more than likely  have to take leave without pay, which will send us further behind financially. But, I am not ready to just leave Sidney alone with someone while on oxygen.  We have started weaning him off of the oxygen and hoping by his next appointment (Jan 28th), he will be able to handle 3 hours a day off of the oxygen. Even if he can only need the oxygen for nap time/bed time, I would feel alot better leaving him with a care taker. 

I can not thank everyone enough for all of the care and support you all have provided for our family. I never imagined so many people could love a little boy they have yet to even meet. That means so much to us. 

Thank you for the donation and even if you can't donate, thank you for all of the moral support!

Love always, 
The Wheat Family