Rufus Clayton Loucks Medical Fund

Rufus Clayton Loucks was welcomed into the world Monday September 25th by some of the greatest parents on the planet Kelsey and Shanna. Surprisingly Shanna went into early labor (5 weeks early to be exact).  Soon after his birth Rufus stopped breathing requiring chest compressions which was followed by him being put on life support. Flight for Life was used to rush Rufus to the Denver Childrens Hospital. The next day of testing would reveal that Baby Rufus was born with a rare genetic disease called Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) that would threaten his life and make survival difficult.  How rare is this disease? There is approximately a 1 in 20,000 chance of this occuring. Both parents must carry the recessive gene responsible for ARPKD and pass both copies to the affected child. In addition to the kidney issue, baby Rufus' lung development was restricted in the womb due to the increased size of his kidneys and the compression they put on his lungs.

On September 26th Kelsey and Shanna Loucks received some unfortunate news.  Rufus' kidneys are twice the size they should be and aren't functioning.  In order to rectify the issue he would need to be placed on dialysis as well as need a Renal transplant with both native kidneys also needing to be removed.  They were also told that because his kidneys weren't functioning in the womb his body wasnt contributing to the amount of amnitoic fluid surrounding him.  With the amniotic fluid being reduced Rufus' lungs didnt develop well.  The doctors indicated that if his lungs did not improve to were he could be taken off the ventilator, baby Rufus would not survive.

There are many expenses one prepares for when having a child, but when you are caught off guard by the enormous cost associated with having a child in specialty care in the ICU and come to know that your child more than likely will not survive, one can only imagine the burden of debt that can quickly pile up followed by future undetermined expenses.

If you are either related to Shanna and Kelsey, a friend of theirs, or even a friend of a friend please consider helping us to make their financial burden lighter.  If you aren't able to help financially please help support them in other ways that would show your love and help them during this difficult and emotional time.

Thanks for your contribution and support.