We Heart Riese
Donation protected
8 years ago a very special girl was born into our family! Riese Elizabeth Jakum! Anyone who has met my granddaughter Riese is immediately struck by her sweet, joyful personality. She sings from sun up to sun down and is never hesitant to break out into her favorite song when going about her day! She is an accomplished writer, having just written her first short story and is beloved by her teachers, both at school and church, and is also an up and coming basketball star!
Shortly after her birth it was discovered that she had an abnormality in her aorta and mitral valves, which brings blood into and out of her heart. My Daughter and Son-in-law have diligently made the annual trek to Yale Hospital to monitor this issue hoping for the best – that there would be no impact to Riese’s heart or blood flow and that the abnormality would stabilize or recede. The good news is there has not yet been an impact on her heart, but unfortunately she will require surgery to remove the obstruction to allow for normal blood flow. Envision your thumb over the end of a garden hose, this is the impact the obstruction is having.
She will undergo open heart surgery on May 9th. Open heart surgery for a child is quite scary as you can imagine, but we are trusting in the Lord and the Doctors that this surgery will go well and her recovery easy. She has the best Doctors and they are quite confident in the success of the procedure.
Riese will need about 6-8 weeks of care and recovery once she returns home. This care will largely fall upon my Daughter and Son-in-law. Sheena works for a large insurance company and Jason is the Pastor of an inner city church in Hartford. Sheena will not be able to work and will not receive any benefits from her company during this time. Additionally, they have a high deductible health care plan. I’m sure you are getting the picture…this will have a great financial impact on their family, with two other children and a home to care for.
Here is where your help is needed!
If it is in your ability to donate, please give whatever you can. The amount stated here is to cover their deductible, medical coverage, and lost wages for the time of Riese’s recovery. If you cannot provide financial help, we are strong believers in prayer!
Thank you to all who donate! We hope you will be blessed in return for your generosity!
Shortly after her birth it was discovered that she had an abnormality in her aorta and mitral valves, which brings blood into and out of her heart. My Daughter and Son-in-law have diligently made the annual trek to Yale Hospital to monitor this issue hoping for the best – that there would be no impact to Riese’s heart or blood flow and that the abnormality would stabilize or recede. The good news is there has not yet been an impact on her heart, but unfortunately she will require surgery to remove the obstruction to allow for normal blood flow. Envision your thumb over the end of a garden hose, this is the impact the obstruction is having.
She will undergo open heart surgery on May 9th. Open heart surgery for a child is quite scary as you can imagine, but we are trusting in the Lord and the Doctors that this surgery will go well and her recovery easy. She has the best Doctors and they are quite confident in the success of the procedure.
Riese will need about 6-8 weeks of care and recovery once she returns home. This care will largely fall upon my Daughter and Son-in-law. Sheena works for a large insurance company and Jason is the Pastor of an inner city church in Hartford. Sheena will not be able to work and will not receive any benefits from her company during this time. Additionally, they have a high deductible health care plan. I’m sure you are getting the picture…this will have a great financial impact on their family, with two other children and a home to care for.
Here is where your help is needed!
If it is in your ability to donate, please give whatever you can. The amount stated here is to cover their deductible, medical coverage, and lost wages for the time of Riese’s recovery. If you cannot provide financial help, we are strong believers in prayer!
Thank you to all who donate! We hope you will be blessed in return for your generosity!
Organizer
Leslie Furbish
Organizer
Milford, NH
