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‘SENSATIONAL Miracles For SAM’
Please help support baby Samuel and his family as they have had to leave Utah via Life Flight for Omaha, NE to undergo lifesaving open heart surgery for Sam. This is the first of many surgeries he’ll require in the first few years of his life. Thank you all for your financial support, love and prayers!
Please forward by ‘sharing’ from your personal FB feed or by copying link.
Please click on the ‘+Read More’ below for the full story on Sam’s journey.
‘SENSATIONAL Miracles For SAM’
This is a story of a blessing named Sam.
Sam was born on April 17th, 2019. Unlike the beautiful babies we all visualize and are reminded of daily with the beautiful births posted on the hospital billboards…Sam was born with a bit of an obstacle known as Trisomy 18.
Trisomy 18, as you may know or not know (like me), is a genetic defect or rather “error” which has a tremendous effect on the birth and development of a baby. Statistically speaking, the impacts of Trisomy 18 are horrific with an average lifespan being 3 days to 2 weeks and only 5-10% living beyond one year; though, that is without early intervention.
There is no denying the magnitude and impact that Sam’s life is having on the Wardrop family. Sam is in need of multiple surgeries and remains in intensive care since the day of his birth. There are many critical issuescurrently involving his heart and lungs. Sam is unable to breath on his own and after two months of various treatments and heartbreaks, Melissa and Sam have been transferred to Nebraska via a surgically staffed jet to undergo open heart surgery in the Omaha Children’s hospital. Sam’s life is a series of miracles, most eloquently described by Melissa in her blog https://m.facebook.com/groups/351271409051881. The Wardrop’s finding this world class surgeon with the willingness, experience and confidence to perform this procedure on Sam is no different.
Despite the fear and anxiety of separating the family and performing this procedure across state lines, this is a milestone seen as blessing with a definitive treatment plan that will hopefully take Sam to the new level of health. Until this time, his life has been confined to that of an Intensive Care Unit overseen by a gamut of physicians, full of tubes and machines, undergoing procedures all in attempt to get Sam to a point where he can simply breathe and begin to eat.
This story sounds like a tragedy doesn’t it? And if you look at the photos of this little baby full of tubes it is difficult not to tear up and feel so deflated….Until you talk to the Wardrops. Sam, Little Sammy, Sammy the Warrior….has been changing lives since the day of his birth. I can do no justice to this story, as Melissa’s blog will, but will attempt to give you a mere glimpse of the blessing Sam is bringing upon those in this world…and Yes, In a way that only God could have predicted : )
Sam, who has developed many nicknames by now, has been acronym’d by his father as “Strong-Appointed-Measured”. And boy is he! As you learn about Sam, your tears will transform into a smile that stems all the way into the center of your heart. You see, Sam has had a birthday celebration every day of his life. Literally. Sam’s crib post’s a Happy Birthday sign for each day he lives. As I write this, Sam is celebrating his 69thday of life. In that process, the doctors, the nurses, the geneticists, the Wardrop’s have become to learn about love, and life, and caring, and gratefulness, and gratitude in a way they never thought possible while Sam continues to survive day after day against all odds. I watched Sam try to breathe on his own in a video on Melissa’sblog and as his body strained against the effort needed to pump the blood through his body, I broke down in tears not knowing how to deal with that. Days later I broke down in tears once again after listening to the Wardrop’s rejoice over the daily miracle of their Warrior battling life and sharing love in a way they never knew possible.
The Wardrop’s life now revolves around visits to the hospital and raising their children while trying to work and balance life with momentary exchanges in the hospital hallway or passing through the kitchen in the early morning or late night hours. The children are also part of this cycle visiting Sam with either mom or dad during alternating shifts, crafting song’s such as “You Are My Sam-Shine” along his bedside to let him know how much he is loved, how much he represents hope and faith and strength and blessing in their lives. Somehow, someway, this family and those around them continue to grow stronger each day as they feed off Sam digging in their heels to celebrate and fight for his life.
This post is not meant to be a pity-party, nor is it meant to be a charity request…as this family currently considers themselves to be more blessed today than they have ever been in their entire life, even as they boarded their child to fly across the country on a surgical jet to once again pray in God’s hand for miracles unknown.
Unfortunately, as remarkable and miraculously overwhelming as this story is, so is the financial burden. Melissa has left her job to care for the family and spend her time with Sam in the hospital nourishing him with love daily. Scott continues to work to the best of his ability, working early mornings and late nights while balancing the family, home and hospital visits. While Melissa relocates to Nebraska for the upcoming surgeries, Scott will remain in Utah working to support the family. Scott will attempt to visit Melissa and Sam in Nebraska alternate weekends and/or as he is able and money permits. Medically speaking, $600k in medical bills have been accrued-to-date in Utah’s Primary Children’s Hospital. The upcoming surgically staffed jet to transfer Sam along with the surgeries and care in Nebraska will quickly overwhelm the remaining monies in their $1M insurance policy. At that point, the insurance company will be dropping Sam from the policy. The Wardrop’s are attempting to acquire subsequent insurance policies but acceptance and future coverage remain in question. It is clear, regardless of the future policies, the medical home supplies not covered by insurance programs, Melissa’s loss of income, traveling across country for hospital visits, and unknown medical bills in general will clearly overwhelm this family financially.
Our beloved friends, Scott, Melissa,and their two children Evalynn (10) and Caleb (6), were told there would likely be complications with this birth and potentially with the life of this child. This was not the first time they had heard news of this sort, as preliminary diagnoses had also forecasted tremendous complications with their son Caleb. Needless to say, Caleb was born with no complications whatsoever and remains a little superman who, like his sister Evalynn, is the epitome of a happy, healthy, gifted child. If you are like me, this is typical in our world today. Many fears, much doubt, even greater negativity that often have little to do with reality.
Following the birth of Sam…I was in for a rude awakening. Turns out, this was real after all. I had been hopeful, almost arrogantly positive that Sam would be born similar to Caleb, a beautiful little miracle that only God could have predicted. As it turns out, this remains true, but for reasons unbeknownst to others looking in.
We are writing this post on behalf of the Wardrop’s, as this is something they would never ask for themselvesand we are honored to do so.
If you are able, if you are willing, if God puts it upon your heart to assist this family…we humbly request your contribution and prayers to assist with the Wardrop’s pursuit of Sam’s life and blessings.
We thank you more than words can express for your prayers and contribution.
Sincerely,
Craig and Tina DeRose
Please help support baby Samuel and his family as they have had to leave Utah via Life Flight for Omaha, NE to undergo lifesaving open heart surgery for Sam. This is the first of many surgeries he’ll require in the first few years of his life. Thank you all for your financial support, love and prayers!
Please forward by ‘sharing’ from your personal FB feed or by copying link.
Please click on the ‘+Read More’ below for the full story on Sam’s journey.
‘SENSATIONAL Miracles For SAM’
This is a story of a blessing named Sam.
Sam was born on April 17th, 2019. Unlike the beautiful babies we all visualize and are reminded of daily with the beautiful births posted on the hospital billboards…Sam was born with a bit of an obstacle known as Trisomy 18.
Trisomy 18, as you may know or not know (like me), is a genetic defect or rather “error” which has a tremendous effect on the birth and development of a baby. Statistically speaking, the impacts of Trisomy 18 are horrific with an average lifespan being 3 days to 2 weeks and only 5-10% living beyond one year; though, that is without early intervention.
There is no denying the magnitude and impact that Sam’s life is having on the Wardrop family. Sam is in need of multiple surgeries and remains in intensive care since the day of his birth. There are many critical issuescurrently involving his heart and lungs. Sam is unable to breath on his own and after two months of various treatments and heartbreaks, Melissa and Sam have been transferred to Nebraska via a surgically staffed jet to undergo open heart surgery in the Omaha Children’s hospital. Sam’s life is a series of miracles, most eloquently described by Melissa in her blog https://m.facebook.com/groups/351271409051881. The Wardrop’s finding this world class surgeon with the willingness, experience and confidence to perform this procedure on Sam is no different.
Despite the fear and anxiety of separating the family and performing this procedure across state lines, this is a milestone seen as blessing with a definitive treatment plan that will hopefully take Sam to the new level of health. Until this time, his life has been confined to that of an Intensive Care Unit overseen by a gamut of physicians, full of tubes and machines, undergoing procedures all in attempt to get Sam to a point where he can simply breathe and begin to eat.
This story sounds like a tragedy doesn’t it? And if you look at the photos of this little baby full of tubes it is difficult not to tear up and feel so deflated….Until you talk to the Wardrops. Sam, Little Sammy, Sammy the Warrior….has been changing lives since the day of his birth. I can do no justice to this story, as Melissa’s blog will, but will attempt to give you a mere glimpse of the blessing Sam is bringing upon those in this world…and Yes, In a way that only God could have predicted : )
Sam, who has developed many nicknames by now, has been acronym’d by his father as “Strong-Appointed-Measured”. And boy is he! As you learn about Sam, your tears will transform into a smile that stems all the way into the center of your heart. You see, Sam has had a birthday celebration every day of his life. Literally. Sam’s crib post’s a Happy Birthday sign for each day he lives. As I write this, Sam is celebrating his 69thday of life. In that process, the doctors, the nurses, the geneticists, the Wardrop’s have become to learn about love, and life, and caring, and gratefulness, and gratitude in a way they never thought possible while Sam continues to survive day after day against all odds. I watched Sam try to breathe on his own in a video on Melissa’sblog and as his body strained against the effort needed to pump the blood through his body, I broke down in tears not knowing how to deal with that. Days later I broke down in tears once again after listening to the Wardrop’s rejoice over the daily miracle of their Warrior battling life and sharing love in a way they never knew possible.
The Wardrop’s life now revolves around visits to the hospital and raising their children while trying to work and balance life with momentary exchanges in the hospital hallway or passing through the kitchen in the early morning or late night hours. The children are also part of this cycle visiting Sam with either mom or dad during alternating shifts, crafting song’s such as “You Are My Sam-Shine” along his bedside to let him know how much he is loved, how much he represents hope and faith and strength and blessing in their lives. Somehow, someway, this family and those around them continue to grow stronger each day as they feed off Sam digging in their heels to celebrate and fight for his life.
This post is not meant to be a pity-party, nor is it meant to be a charity request…as this family currently considers themselves to be more blessed today than they have ever been in their entire life, even as they boarded their child to fly across the country on a surgical jet to once again pray in God’s hand for miracles unknown.
Unfortunately, as remarkable and miraculously overwhelming as this story is, so is the financial burden. Melissa has left her job to care for the family and spend her time with Sam in the hospital nourishing him with love daily. Scott continues to work to the best of his ability, working early mornings and late nights while balancing the family, home and hospital visits. While Melissa relocates to Nebraska for the upcoming surgeries, Scott will remain in Utah working to support the family. Scott will attempt to visit Melissa and Sam in Nebraska alternate weekends and/or as he is able and money permits. Medically speaking, $600k in medical bills have been accrued-to-date in Utah’s Primary Children’s Hospital. The upcoming surgically staffed jet to transfer Sam along with the surgeries and care in Nebraska will quickly overwhelm the remaining monies in their $1M insurance policy. At that point, the insurance company will be dropping Sam from the policy. The Wardrop’s are attempting to acquire subsequent insurance policies but acceptance and future coverage remain in question. It is clear, regardless of the future policies, the medical home supplies not covered by insurance programs, Melissa’s loss of income, traveling across country for hospital visits, and unknown medical bills in general will clearly overwhelm this family financially.
Our beloved friends, Scott, Melissa,and their two children Evalynn (10) and Caleb (6), were told there would likely be complications with this birth and potentially with the life of this child. This was not the first time they had heard news of this sort, as preliminary diagnoses had also forecasted tremendous complications with their son Caleb. Needless to say, Caleb was born with no complications whatsoever and remains a little superman who, like his sister Evalynn, is the epitome of a happy, healthy, gifted child. If you are like me, this is typical in our world today. Many fears, much doubt, even greater negativity that often have little to do with reality.
Following the birth of Sam…I was in for a rude awakening. Turns out, this was real after all. I had been hopeful, almost arrogantly positive that Sam would be born similar to Caleb, a beautiful little miracle that only God could have predicted. As it turns out, this remains true, but for reasons unbeknownst to others looking in.
We are writing this post on behalf of the Wardrop’s, as this is something they would never ask for themselvesand we are honored to do so.
If you are able, if you are willing, if God puts it upon your heart to assist this family…we humbly request your contribution and prayers to assist with the Wardrop’s pursuit of Sam’s life and blessings.
We thank you more than words can express for your prayers and contribution.
Sincerely,
Craig and Tina DeRose
Organizer and beneficiary
Melissa Wardrop
Beneficiary