Team Liam

Hi, my name is Stacy Wermert.  My sister, Sarah, just recently had a beautiful baby boy named Liam, but things throughout the pregnancy and after birth unfortunately did not go as planned.   As a result, on top of all the emotional pain, her husband and her will have to face a tremendous amount of medical bills.  Money obviously is no object when it comes to helping your precious baby, but if I can lessen her burden, I would love to try!!!   

Here is my sister's heart-breaking story:
"When school let out in the Spring, I had a mid check up ultrasound. Turns out Liam had a little more cerebral fluid in ventricles in his brain than "textbook level" of 10mm or below. His was 11 mm. I was sent to a high risk doctor for check ups with an ultrasound and had a Fetal MRI. The doctor thought he saw a cyst in Liam's brain that could be causing b...lockage and that Liam had something called an arachnoid cyst, Blake's Pouch, or the worst (but told least likely) Dandy Walker. The MRI showed no cyst and all genetic testing was negative for chromosomal abnormalities. My next visit to the doctor the cerebral fluid went down some and was told we didn't need to see him (high risk doctor). Boys tend to have higher cerebral fluid that can range from 10-12 mm. Brandon and I were thrilled and so relieved. And so happy all the appointments were over; we had a ton of different appointments.

When 32 weeks came I had a normal 32 week ultrasound check up (right before school started). The ultrasound showed Liam's cerebral fluid was 17mm. I can't tell you the panic and pain Brandon and I began to feel. Got sent back to the high risk doctor 4 days later where the fluid was then showing 28mm in his ventricles in his brain. They did another fetal MRI that shows Liam not only has a severe amount of cerebral fluid in his ventricles but for some reason unknown has suffered 2 brain hemorrhages. Brandon and I had another appointment to find that the fluid level was even higher at 32 mm. Liam was then diagnosed with hydrocephalus. We met with a pediatric neurosurgeon that went over the MRI with us and not only has severe hydrocephalus but think he has Dandy Walker (the worst but least likely we were told in the beginning). The neurosurgeon gave us some hope that it is not 100% that Liam has Dandy Walker and his brain shape is not the shape of children with severe Dandy Walker. He told us the infant brain is very healing and Liam could be just fine after surgeries. EVERY doctor has told us that we won't know what Liam will be like or what is going to happen until Liam is born.

On Thursday morning at 4:40 a.m. Liam was born. He weighs 6 lbs. 3 oz. and 18 inches long. The doctors found he was under "stress" so they scheduled me for a c -section Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Liam must of had other plans because my water broke around 4:00 a.m., and I had an emergency c- section.

Liam is doing awesome! His first day was rough but he is doing better. Liam has been stable and strong. He really is a fighter and strong little guy. He is alert and acts like a "normal" infant. Little guy is just absolutely so sweet and perfect in every way!!

Shortly after Liam was born, the doctors discovered that he was bruising extremely easily. They did a blood test and found that Liam's blood platelets were very low. This was causing the bruising all over his body. He was not able to form clots when he started bleeding like you and me to stop bleeding. They also found that Liam's red blood cell count was low and think he is bleeding in his brain right now. So his first day being alive Liam had a blood platelet transfusion and regular blood transfusion. They are testing Liam for a blood disorder. The doctors are confident that the hemorrhages on Liam's brain (from MRI) are mostly caused by his blood platelets being low. The blood then caused the cerebral fluid to build up and not drain because the blood causes a blockage.

Liam could not have any type of surgery until this blood condition was under control. So yesterday morning Liam had another blood platelet transfusion. On Thursday he had a MRI. Yesterday all the test for his blood levels were great and his body was stable to the neurosurgeon decided to go ahead and perform the surgery. He put the shunt in his brain. Liam is doing awesome! I just called over to the NICU and they said the circumference of his head has gone down a little bit!!! Poor guy has been in pain and has not wanted to to eat. So I am ready to quickly get myself over to Liam as soon as they bring breakfast to me. Also, they tested his blood, and his platelets and hemoglobin levels are at great right now. Seems like things are really looking up and positive. We have heard NOTHING about Dandy Walker. I want it to stay that way. He seems like and acts like a normal infant. Right now I feel very optimistic. It seems like Liam is going to be just fine. BUT only time will time for sure and that is where prayers are needed."

Please pray, pray, pray for Liam!!! He is a fighter and strong little guy! We can't express how awesome so many of you have been to Liam and my sister and our family! Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We really needed it and has helped us so much. I TRULY mean that. Words can't express how much we love this sweet little guy!! He is so loved and perfect to us in every way!