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Support Duncan’s Journey Home

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Hi, my name is Jessica and I am friends with the Rieser/Mayfield family. I am fundraising for Jake and Brooke’s sweet son, Duncan. Duncan was born 6 weeks early on January 26th, at 3lbs and unknowingly very sick. There were weeks of doctors trying to figure out why he was so small aside from having a heart defect. It took 4 genetic tests for doctors to diagnose him with GATA6 syndrome. With less than 200 cases medically reported, they went to work on how to help him.

Due to his disorder, Duncan was born with a heart defect and without a pancreas. His heart defect became severe enough for doctors to perform pulmonary banding and PDA closure surgery on his heart at 7 weeks old. He then contracted a bacterial infection which caused dehiscence of the sternum and an emergency surgery was performed bedside a week after his initial surgery. He will need an open heart surgery to repair the large hole in his heart within the first two years of life and could also require a valve replacement later on. In addition to his heart issues, being without a pancreas has caused type 1 diabetes and an enzyme deficiency. His enzyme deficiency does not allow for his body to process food normally causing malnutrition. Duncan will require insulin and enzyme therapy for the rest of his life.

He has received a plethora of scans, X-rays, echocardiograms, antibiotics, medications, oxygen and has been intubated twice in his short life. As first time parents, Jake and Brooke have not only been dealing with the stress of a medically complicated child, but have been staying away from home at the Ronald McDonald house of Oak Lawn to be close to Duncan since he was born 3 months ago. They’ve continued to try and work, pay bills, and care for their son while medical bills start rolling in. My hope with this fundraiser is to support them as they start the transition to come home and help with medication, medical supplies, medical bills, and any time off work for appointments and adjustment to their new life with Duncan and the care he requires. This is the beginning of their life together, but a continued road to a healthy life for Duncan.
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    Organizer and beneficiary

    Jessica Diebold
    Organizer
    Aurora, IL
    Brooke Mayfield
    Beneficiary

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