Support Gatlyn's Healing Journey

THIS GOFUNDME WAS PREVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE FAMILIES AND THE FUNDS WILL DIRECTLY GO TO KELLY LAMM SMITH:

On October 30th, 2024 at 34 weeks Kelly (Lamm) Smith was gifted with the life of Gatlyn Faith Marley. She was due December 7th. Unfortunately, 11 days prior to Gatlyn's arrival, Taylor Marley (Gatlyn’s father) passed unexpectedly. The grandparents of Gatlyn are Susie Lamm (former Manager at Walmart on Garden Road) and Dwayne and Cathy Marley of Snow Camp.

This is Gatlyn’s story and the need:

Kelly began to show pregnancy complications in late October and went into labor early. She had to have an emergency C-section at Alamance Regional Medical Center and within 30 minutes after Gatlyn’s birth, a helicopter arrived at ARMC to take Gatlyn to Duke Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for immediate medical attention. It was determined that Gatlyn had a condition called Esophageal Atresia. Esophageal atresia is a birth defect where the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, does not develop properly. This results is two separate segments of the esophagus that do not connect. Her condition is Type A.

Gatlyn had surgery to place a feeding tube soon after birth and almost 2 1/2 months later on January 10th, 2025, she underwent a seven hour repair surgery on her esophagus. Today, January 11, 2025, she had to have a follow-up repair surgery,. She has been hospitalized since birth. Now the process of healing and teaching her to eat by mouth begins. It is unclear how much longer she will be in the NICU at Duke Hospital. What we do know is there will be follow up surgeries in the future related to her birth diagnoses.

As you can imagine, the medical bills are mounting and will only go higher as Kelly deals with Gatlyn’s medical needs. Although Kelly has insurance, she will still have many medical bills to pay the two hospitals (ARMC and Duke). This GoFundMe is being set up to help alleviate some of the financial stress.

If you can help, it is greatly appreciated, but prayers are just as important for Gatlyn, Kelly and her other children, Paisley and Josh. Gatlyn is a precious gift from God to Kelly, the Lamm family and the Marley family and I believe God will heal her in His time. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers during this time of uncertainty for them.

Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"

NOTE: my connection to Kelly is that our daughters grew up together, were in Girl Scouts together and graduated together at Southern Alamance High School. I've know Cathy and Dwayne (grandparents) all my life. In addition, our granddaughter Tessa (3.5 years) also has esophageal atresia and had to have surgery after birth. I just wanted to help Kelly out during this stressful time.