December 1, 2024, we were blessed with a sweet baby boy named Ryder. He was healthy from what we knew when he was born. Around the time of his one-month follow-up, I received a phone call regarding his newborn health screening that was done routinely after the delivery. The physician that called to leave a message stated that it was urgent and to return the call from the children’s Cystic Fibrosis program. She was very adamant that we were to call right away to go over lab results. I previously knew based on my bloodwork while pregnant that I was a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis. However, being a carrier didn't necessarily mean he would have it. It was confirmed at that appointment that Ryder was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, which meant both me and his dad are carriers.

It has been a rough journey for Ryder since then. He is almost 6 months old and has been admitted to the hospital 3 times, staying for over a month or more each admission. He has been battling pneumonia, rhinovirus, E. coli, staph, and multiple other infections along with his disease. Along with all of this, we told the nurses he seemed like his arm was extremely tender. He would scream and cry even if you touched it. After we insisted they change the IV, the nurses kept saying the IV was fine. Once we made the doctor change it, they discovered another blood infection from the IV and blood clots in his arm. They said the IV had infiltrated.

He is currently under the care of several specialists, and they have tried multiple different antibiotics and procedures, like putting him under anesthesia to go into his lung and airways and try to clear the mucus out that he can’t do himself because it is just so sticky. Unfortunately, this has not only caused an emotional roller coaster but a significant financial strain on us. Both me and his dad work, and we have had to take a lot of time off work to be with Ryder for procedures. Tolls and traveling an hour to the hospital one way every day has been rough.

We have now been out of the hospital for about a week. Ryder is still on multiple antibiotics, oxygen as needed, and breathing treatments. He is scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks for bronchoscopies to try and keep him out of the hospital until he is old enough to have help with things like vest treatments. The doctors say we will see how he does on these antibiotics at home, and if the procedures and that can’t clear his lung and the infections he has, then they will remove the part of the lung that he can’t get clear himself. This is hopefully the last resort, and we are praying that the new antibiotics he has help.

We are taking donations to help with bills that we just can’t catch up on due to the missing days of work. Anything will be appreciated, and if not able, we greatly appreciate prayers!