This GoFundMe has been created to help offset the costs associated with Rowan’s treatment. Rowan Schreiber, my bright red-haired and big blue-eyed precious baby boy, was born with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD). Diagnosed at just 8 months old, this rare genetic disorder makes him highly susceptible to frequent and life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. You could never tell just by looking at him that something is wrong. He’s the happiest boy and so loved by all of us. He loves Ms. Rachel, enjoys eating, playing, laughing, and spending time with his family.
It is a daily struggle because exposure to fungus, bacteria, and tiny microorganisms living in our air, food, and water is impossible to avoid. For most, they are harmless—and usually quite helpful—but not to someone with CGD. For example, Rowan can’t touch dirt or sand, go to lakes or beaches, visit the petting zoo, or play sports when he’s old enough. He can’t play in leaves like a typical child. Anytime Rowan gets a fever, we have to make sure there’s no infection, and blood work has to be done. We are automatically admitted to the hospital since his improperly functioning immune system will not protect him.
This affects our whole family, including Rowan’s three older siblings, because of all the preventative measures we must take to keep Rowan safe. Luckily, we caught it while he is very young, while most people don’t get a diagnosis until they start getting frequent infections. Rowan has to stay as healthy as possible before we go through with his bone marrow transplant, which is hopefully going to cure him so he can have the normal childhood he deserves. During his bone marrow transplant, we expect to be hospitalized for about three months, not including the travel back and forth for frequent checkups. We’ll be staying at the Ronald McDonald House for some of this time, and our only vehicle is close to the end of its days, while dad doesn’t have a vehicle. Dad works, but I am a stay-at-home mom to keep Rowan healthy before transplant. Rowan will need chemotherapy and may never be able to have children of his own when he’s older.
If anyone can help donate to cover some of the expenses we are about to face and are currently experiencing, our family would appreciate it so much. Even if you can’t donate, please share and pray for our baby boy to be cured and avoid complications. We pray for a complete miracle for Rowan, but we are preparing for any side effects that could come months or decades after transplant. Thank you and God bless.
It is a daily struggle because exposure to fungus, bacteria, and tiny microorganisms living in our air, food, and water is impossible to avoid. For most, they are harmless—and usually quite helpful—but not to someone with CGD. For example, Rowan can’t touch dirt or sand, go to lakes or beaches, visit the petting zoo, or play sports when he’s old enough. He can’t play in leaves like a typical child. Anytime Rowan gets a fever, we have to make sure there’s no infection, and blood work has to be done. We are automatically admitted to the hospital since his improperly functioning immune system will not protect him.
This affects our whole family, including Rowan’s three older siblings, because of all the preventative measures we must take to keep Rowan safe. Luckily, we caught it while he is very young, while most people don’t get a diagnosis until they start getting frequent infections. Rowan has to stay as healthy as possible before we go through with his bone marrow transplant, which is hopefully going to cure him so he can have the normal childhood he deserves. During his bone marrow transplant, we expect to be hospitalized for about three months, not including the travel back and forth for frequent checkups. We’ll be staying at the Ronald McDonald House for some of this time, and our only vehicle is close to the end of its days, while dad doesn’t have a vehicle. Dad works, but I am a stay-at-home mom to keep Rowan healthy before transplant. Rowan will need chemotherapy and may never be able to have children of his own when he’s older.
If anyone can help donate to cover some of the expenses we are about to face and are currently experiencing, our family would appreciate it so much. Even if you can’t donate, please share and pray for our baby boy to be cured and avoid complications. We pray for a complete miracle for Rowan, but we are preparing for any side effects that could come months or decades after transplant. Thank you and God bless.