Support Ozzy & Family - Post Open Heart Surgery
Thank you for visiting Ozzy Aakre's GoFundMe!
My name is Kayla (one of many very proud "Aunties" to the strong little man above!)
I have organized this recovery fund in hopes of providing some financial relief to two VERY deserving first time parents - Samantha Holthaus and Sam Aakre. From prenatal care, to birth, to follow-up appointments and visits to specialists - medical and personal bills can become a great financial and mental hardship. In the most difficult of times, this go fund me will allow Sam and Sammi focus solely on the most important part of parenthood - loving on and spending time with their new, sweet baby boy.
Ozzy's medical journey:
Born a little fighter, Ozzy James Aakre made his world debut on August 16th at 3:04am. Mom (Samantha Holthaus) and Dad (Samuel Aakre) are doting, proud parents to a 9Ibs 1oz, 20.5" baby boy!
In the days following his birth, doctors found a murmur in Ozzy's heart, a common abnormality in newborns. After many doctors visits and a closer look by specialists at Mayo Clinic, it was discovered that sweet Ozzy had a very rare heart defect, a "Aortopulmonary window" (AP window.) This defect occurs in about 0.2% of all congenital heart abnormalities. In the heart, the Aorta and Pulmonary artery are supposed to be "hugging" each other but remain unconnected. Ozzy was born with a window in between his connected Aorta and Pulmonary artery, resulting in the potential for fluid to fill his lungs and inhibit his breathing.
In result of his AP window, Ozzy was scheduled to receive open heart surgery on Monday, August 30th. Unfortunately, by Thursday August 26th, his lungs were starting to fill with fluid and his oxygen was dropping quickly. Ozzy's doctors swiftly decided to move the procedure up to the morning of Friday, August 27th to repair the window in his heart. At just 12 days old, Ozzy would undergo open heart surgery.
Thankfully, the surgery went as planned and Ozzy did absolutely fantastic!!! The first day of post-op was alarming and scary, but Mom and Dad maintained so much faith in Ozzy. Their little fighter continues to progress forward positively and get stronger every day.
Growing up alongside Sammi and Sam, I have been a close witness to their kind spirit, their unconditional compassion and the love that they give to everyone that they meet. Sam and Sammi's family and friends are continually SO proud of their strength, resilience, and drive to be the best parents that they can possibly be. We hope that this fund can put them on a positive path to a healthy, happy first few months of parenthood following Ozzy's surgery.
Thank you from the bottom of ALL of our hearts to the amazing doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for getting baby Ozzy on the road to health and recovery. Please donate, share and send healing thoughts to the Aakre's in this difficult time. <3
