++**//WE REACHED OUR INITIAL GOAL OF $3,000!!! THANK YOU TO ALL THE GENEROUS DONORS! WE ARE INCREASING IT TO $4,000 TO KEEP THE BLESSINGS ROLLING!\\**++

♥ See the update posted 8/16/21 to read more about Camden's updates. ♥

Baby Camden James Daniel Goodrich was born on Friday, August 6th at Ottumwa Regional Health Center. After an uncomfortable but seemingly routine pregnancy, and highly anticipated excitement of having a BOY (after 6 older sisters), his parents were thrust into a medical whirlwind they never saw coming. Camden was born quickly and the nursing staff at ORHC monitored him there for about 24 hours before believing it was necessary to transfer him to University of Iowa NICU. In a sudden, middle-of-the-night transfer, Camden was taken away from his parents by ambulance to UIHC NICU. Sam and Gerrad left Ottumwa to get to UIHC to be by his side as soon as they could.

When they got to UIHC NICU, the neonatologist put their minds and hearts at ease about Camden's condition. He reassured them that they weren't facing the worst case scenario that ORHC had led them to believe, and that they were going to do testing to confirm his expected condition. A few days later, Sam and Gerrad received Camden's diagnosis of Down Syndrome. During pregnancy, Sam received a negative down syndrome reading. Only about 1% of those tests receive a false negative.

Camden has been at the NICU since late Saturday, August 7th. They have been doing special testing and monitoring his feedings, oxygen levels, and doing heart testing. Camden has a heart valve that isn't closed properly, but the DRs have said this is a common condition in Down Syndrome babies. They will monitor him closely and hope it closes naturally in the coming days/weeks. Camden is currently on oxygen fulltime, but is otherwise meeting the milestones the NICU DRs and nurses are setting for him. He is already a miraculous blessing to his parents and big sisters who cannot wait to meet him and get baby snuggles.

This GoFundMe is necessary because the NICU is 90 minutes from Sam and Gerrad's house. Sam is unable to work due to recovering from surgery so they are doing their best on one income while also depleting Gerrad's away time from his job. UIHC and Ronald McDonald lodging is all full, so it is expensive if they want to get a full night of sleep closer to Camden - or they are forced to drive the 90 minutes home and spend money in ever-rising gas prices. The balancing act between  having an infant in the NICU and their 6 older daughters at home is stressful and emotional. The gas money adds up. The cafeteria food isn't cheap. Bills still roll in, the mortgage comes due, their car payment won't wait... everything expects to be paid on time while they are experiencing an emotional and unexpected medical event. Not to mention the added stress of what is next for Camden. What special equipment will he need when he is released? Will he require additional treatment? His release date is still unknown, so every donation is a MEANINGFUL donation. We THANK YOU for donating to this cause. Sam and Gerrad have worked hard their entire lives, and the community support means everything as they face what is next in their new reality.