On May 15th, Christopher Schmitz & Kacey Whitaker’s world changed in an instant.

After weeks of illness, breathing difficulties, feeding issues, and multiple medical appointments with no clear answers, their 7-week-old son Ryker Schmitz, was rushed to VCU Children's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

Upon arriving at the emergency room, the medical team immediately recognized the severity of his condition and rushed him down the hallway. Within moments, Christopher and Kacey were told that their baby needed emergency open-heart surgery to save his life.

Doctors initially believed Ryker had TAPVR, a rare and life-threatening heart defect that matched all of his symptoms. However, when the cardiology team began evaluating him further, they discovered that the diagnosis was actually Critical Coarctation of the Aorta (Critical CoA).

While the heart condition explained part of what Ryker was experiencing, it did not explain the severe breathing and gastrointestinal issues he had been battling since birth.

Ryker underwent emergency heart surgery, and thankfully the repair was successful. Unfortunately, his fight is far from over.

Since May 15th, Ryker has remained on a ventilator with a breathing tube. Despite numerous tests, scans, procedures, and consultations, doctors are still searching for answers. He has undergone multiple bronchoscopies with biopsies, CT scans, X-rays, and extensive testing.

An entire team of specialists is now working together to determine what is causing his ongoing lung and respiratory complications, including:

• Cardiology

• Pulmonology

• Hematology

• Gastroenterology

• Hepatology

• Genetics

• Infectious Disease

• Rheumatology

At this time, no one knows how long Ryker will remain hospitalized or what the next steps will be. While there have been small victories along the way, he continues to face a difficult road ahead.

As Ryker fights each day, his parents are doing everything they can to remain by his side. The financial burden continues to grow with missed work, daily travel, meals, lodging, parking, and other unexpected expenses that come with having a critically ill child in the hospital.

We are asking for your prayers, support, and any financial assistance you may be able to provide. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help ease the burden on Ryker's family so they can focus on what matters most—being there for their son.

Most importantly, please keep Ryker in your thoughts and prayers as he continues his fight for healing, answers, and recovery.

Thank you for supporting Ryker and his parents during this incredibly difficult time.

This fundraiser is being organized by Christopher’s brother Jonathan Schmitz and with the permission of Christopher Schmitz and Kacey Whitaker.