Support Maeve's Journey to Health

Support for Maeve and her family.

I have known Jenn for 25+ years and was devastated to hear that she and her husband had been keeping health news about their daughter 1 year old daughter quiet until now. In January of this year, Jenn and Sean got the difficult news that their then 7-month-old daughter has craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close prematurely, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth and premature closure of the fontanelles (soft spots). Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance.

Coronal synostosis (the type Maeve has) may cause an elevation of the eye socket, flattening of the ridge of the eye and displacement of the nose on the affected side. All which are indeed the case for sweet Maeve. Without correction Maeve will have deformity and the potential for developmental delays or other complications.

The good news is that it’s operable. The bad news is it’s a heavy operation.

She will have a procedure called open CVR/FOA. A zigzag incision is made in the skin of the scalp from ear to ear, which allows the surgeons access to the bones of the skull. The surgeons then remove the misshapen bones protecting her brain, reshape them and cut new sutures where they were closed, then place them back in the correct position. They are secured in place with absorbable plates and screws and then her healing journey will begin.

Her parents researched several surgeons across the country and found the best of the best who specializes in this type of surgery.

On August 6th Maeve will go in for surgery at a hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Although some of the surgery is covered from insurance, some of it is not, and there are a lot of out-of-pocket expenses being incurred by this family that I hope we can help offset. The tremendous amount of worry in having a child going through such an intense operation on a one-year-old is simply taxing enough. There are travel expenses and all that entails (housing, airfare, food, extras for Maeve after surgery to feel comfortable, additional medical fees) that will be incurred.

It’s not a burden on this family because these are the parents that would do anything for their children, but I’d like to help make it a bit less stressful. If you can donate, it would be wonderful. If you can wear the color purple on August 6th to support Maeve and her family, that would be fabulous. Most importantly and appreciated would be thoughts & prayers for the Reilly family.

“Maybe I can’t stop the downpour, but I will always join you for a walk in the rain” - Unknown