(Sammy and) Ester’s In-Utero Surgery

Our son Sammy, and his wife Ester, are expecting a baby boy who has spina bifida (exposed spinal cord), and fluid on the brain. After being turned down for in-utero surgery in a number of states, there is a surgeon in Connecticut who has decided to take them. The surgery will not cure the SB, but it can potentially help their son’s chances at walking and lessening various challenges after birth.

Sammy and Ester head out to Connecticut from Oregon this weekend. The surgery will happen soon after their arrival. They will be staying out there until the baby is delivered in September, and will need to stay on into October, depending on the kinds of postpartum surgeries he will need.

This fundraiser is for their travel expenses, income decrease, and many medical bills, as well as just a supportive way of saying we care for them and want to lighten the burden.

Our entire family is grateful for your friendship to them, in any form and fashion.

If anyone prefers to send them anything personally, I can get you their new address.

UPDATE: They are undergoing various tests and engaging in many meetings this week. An MRI showed more fluid on the brain than was initially expected, as well as a possible blockage of some sort.

The surgery should be early next week, and Ester will be on partial bed rest until she delivers in September. Sammy will go back to get little Rebecca (now in Oregon) after the surgery, and family will be helping to nanny, after he finds work in Connecticut.

As of now, they have housing, and they are hoping to keep that situation for the duration.

Insurance is saying it will decline their request, and a surgery of this kind is somewhere around $50,000.

We are all humbled and blessed by your generosity and kindness to our kids. Thank you all so much for your support.

UPDATE: Praise God. The surgery went very well, and Ester should be able to leave the hospital by the end of this week. Baby will be born pre-term, and we entrust him to God for that timing and for his future development (he is just 24 weeks now).

Sammy let me know that between GoFundMe and private donations, they now have half of the surgery costs, which has truly blessed them. They have a great living situation, and Sammy will be looking for work next week.

Insurance has again denied their claim, so I will keep this fundraiser going, to help them with the second half of the surgery bill.

We can’t thank you enough, for the tangible support for our kids, and for the praise and requests you bring to God. It all eases their burden, and we are grateful.

UPDATE (07/18): Ester’s water broke, and she has been admitted to the hospital for the duration. Baby is only 26-27 weeks. Doctors will try to keep Baby in-utero as long as they can. It’s a challenge for the kids.There will be more medical bills, and there is fatigue.

We greatly value your support, in all ways.

UPDATE (08/07): Ester has been in the hospital for the last three weeks, and Baby will be delivered via C-section August 22, if all goes well. Your generosity still blesses and supports their little family, as medical bills mount. Thank you so much for caring in such tangible ways.

UPDATE (08/11): Baby couldn’t wait for the 22nd. Little Thaddeus was born this week at just 3 pounds, 5 ounces. He is so beautiful. Ester is doing well, and will be discharged in a couple of days. Baby will be in NICU/neonatal for quite a while, as he grows and becomes able to breathe and eat on his own.

UPDATE (10/04): Today is Thaddeus’s original due date! He is still in the NICU, but his parents are hoping to take him home in the next few weeks and begin the week-long drive back to Oregon to restart their lives there. They will be looking for housing and a number of specialists for baby.

Thaddeus is over 6 pounds, now, and is breathing and eating on his own, but is at risk for aspiration. He seems to have two settings-extremely calm, or quite stressed. His little legs incurred fractures during delivery, and they weren’t moving much for a while, but he is healing and moving his legs, so we are very thankful. He has hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) they are monitoring, among other possible cognitive challenges. His bowels are weak and that causes irritation and soreness.

Sammy’s job and their living situation continues to be a blessing in Connecticut. Ester’s sister has been here helping all summer, and they all have an amazing amount of tenacity and grace, though they are tired.

Little Thaddeus has a lot going on in his little body. We are so grateful for your care and kindness to everyone through these challenges. You bless us all, and the kids are so grateful.