Support Shantel's Baby's Heart Surgery Journey

Hello, friends and family. This is Kim Shantels stepmom. On Monday May 16th, Shantel found out she was 28 weeks pregnant with her sweet baby boy. A time of joy and excitement, quickly turned into fear and uncertainty as we learned that the baby had an undiagnosed issue with his heart.

Fast forward to today, we had an appointment with Fetal Cartiologist, here in Sioux Falls, where she explained baby's heart condition as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Hypoplastic heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare congenital heart disease that occurs when the left side of a baby's heart doesn't develop properly during pregnancy. The left side of the heart is smaller than normal and can't pump enough blood to the body.

So what does this mean for Shantel and baby? The Cartiologist is referring Shantel to a hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan where baby can be scheduled for a life saving surgery at one week old and where both Mom and baby can be with some of the best doctor's in the country for this diagnosis. Ideally the doctor would like Shantel to deliver the baby out there, where she and baby can receive the best care during labor, delivery and thereafter for surgery day. If Shantel was to deliver baby here in Sioux Falls, if baby remains stable enough for Shantel to recover, they would be flown to Ann Arbor together, but if for any reason baby is not doing well after birth, baby would be flown out and Shantel would have to follow. Only time will tell how this part plays out and where Shantel ends up having baby.

As you can imagine, finding out during your second trimester that there is a baby on the way, is scary in itself, at first. All the planning and preparing that has to be done in a short period of time. Now learning of baby's heart condition today, and what his first few months of life will look like, has brought us the worry of how we will financially be able to make this work. It's without a doubt that we will do whatever we have to for Shantel and baby, but with that comes some financial challenges. We have been assigned a social worker at the hospital here in town and they are helping gather our resources for assistance with food and lodging once we get to Ann Arbor. However, there will be several expenses that will come directly out of our pocket, which is why I am writing to you this evening. We would be forever grateful for any donations received that can be used for travel and medical related expenses as we go on this journey with Shantel and baby.

I appreciate you taking the time to read Shantel and baby's story and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your consideration of a donation during this difficult time. We love you all so very much!