Support for baby Steward

I am setting this up for my nephew Joseph Steward and his wife Amber as they are facing an extremely life changing situation. Amber is 22 weeks along with her 4th pregnancy, and upon a normal “gender” reveal ultrasound, complications for this baby girl, were revealed.

According to the doctors and surgeons, baby has a form of lower spine spina bifida, a birth defect that happens around 5-8 weeks gestation where the spinal cord and spine do not form or close off properly, leaving a tissue gap where the spinal cord is exposed. Baby also is diagnosed with inverted feet, stemming from the inability to move her ankles properly, due to the spinal cord malformation.

In addition, baby has also developed a lipomyelomeningocele, a fatty tissue mass that can form, at the open part of the spine, and it pulls on the spinal cord. If that happens, it can cause other nervous system problems. And there’s more. They also found that baby has a chiari malformation, where the spinal cord is being pulled down enough that it's affecting the development of the skull shape and the cerebellum (the part of the brain at the back of the head that controls balance, movement, and some cognitive abilities), and the cerebellum is being compressed, causing fluid build up in various parts of the brain.

The doctors believe they can help with surgery. Joseph and Amber have had to make a very quick decision regarding options presented. With only 15 minutes to discuss and pray about this option, Joseph and Amber have decided on pre-birth surgery for baby. They will be going to Toronto within the next 2 weeks, for fetal surgery where they will operate on the unborn baby, to repair the mass, close the spine, and slow/possibly reverse the cerebellum malformation and stop the compression and fluid build up.

This is where the need for funds comes in as they must pay all expenses on their own. This includes flights, hotels, and meals.

The doctors also want her to stay within an hour of the hospital in Edmonton, which means that for the next 3-4 months she has to be away from her family and find a place to rent in Edmonton so she can achieve that.

A C-section birth later will still be necessary, if all goes according to plan, when baby is close to 37wks along. Baby will be in NICU for a few weeks post arrival.

All this to give you the background as to the why we’ve set up this go-fund me page.

We are not soliciting for money, but we’ve been approached by several people that have asked to help financially. This seemed a logical way to make it easy to those who perhaps feel to assist Joseph and Amber in this time of trial. As you can imagine, the cost will be quite massive, as Joseph has already, and will need to take much time off work to support Amber and baby, and as we all know, the financial burdens do not lessen with trials.

Any help you give will be so greatly appreciated and all we can ask is that God richly bless you back.

What we truly covet is all your prayers!

Love and prayers

PS: For those that do not want to use go fund me, here is an email address where you can sent directly to the family. [email redacted]