Help The Schornstein Family

You all know Megan and Matt (and if you don't, you really should!) They help everyone. They volunteer and give so much of themselves (time, energy, talent, money, compassion) to  their  church, schools, work places, family and friends. It is now time for us to do the same for them. 

Meet the beautiful, brave and TOUGH Clara and Greta. Born just shy of 25 weeks they were eager meet their amazing big sister and parents. 

Clara and the greatest big sister ever, Elsie.
Greta, so smiley


Clara and Greta will both be receiving significant medical care for the upcoming years. Currently, both girls are receiving incredible care at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, located in Minneapolis, MN.  Clara will likely be going home this spring and Greta a little later. Greta will receive home health services once she arrives home. 

Megan is currently on an unpaid leave of absence from her teaching position. They have spend endless hours traveling between home and the hospital each day and night. They have eaten countless (expensive) hospital meals and have incurred many expenses in the last few months and will continue to occur in the upcoming year. 

How can you help? By making a donation for the family. It is not the most fun way to help but at this point it is the greatest need. Any amount is appreciated. The smallest amounts add up and the great show of support from friends and family near and far are truly felt in the heart. 

Thank you!



A little bit more of the backstory in Megan's words:

We found out that we were expecting twins in July.  From that moment on, life got really crazy.

At our 19 week appointment, we found out that both babies were girls.

At 21 weeks, I went to the hospital for extra fluid leakage, only to be sent home.  That night I had another gush of water. At my routine follow-up appointment, the following Tuesday, it was discovered that Baby A (Greta)’s water had broken and she didn’t have much amniotic fluid.  I was immediately sent to the Antepartum Unit at UMMC-Riverside/Masonic. During the following three weeks, I was monitored 2-3 times a day, had my blood pressure taken just as often, and was encouraged to let the baby cook.  

On Tuesday, October 31st, many different changes started happening and the high-risk baby doctor found that I was dilating and announced that the girls would be born.  At 4:14 Greta Hope entered the world at 1 pound 3 ounces and at 4:15 Clara Faith entered the world at 1 pound 8 ounces. Both girls were intubated and sent to NICU.  

Throughout the next days, weeks, months, the girls had many vent supporting them, Greta (jet, oscillator, conventional vent, NAVA) and Clara (oscillator, conventional vent, NAVA, CPAP, high flow, low flow, and room air).  Both girls have endured multiple surgeries, Greta (PDA ligation, of the heart; trach and gtube), and Clara (temporary shunt due to brain bleed grade 4 on the left and grade 1 on the right, PDA catherization, gtube, and permanent shunt, to come).  

Greta will come home with home health care. Both girls will be followed for years to come.

Through this all, they continue to grow and develop, forming their own personalities.  Greta loves head massages, to snuggle, and to sit up. She responses to voices and the tones of those voices.  Clara is a ham and loves to watch people. She is very alert and loves to be held.

Thank you all!