Help Baby Wylder Hutcherson

Help Baby Wylder Hutcherson, Born with Life-Threatening Hydronephrosis

When Jodi Hutcherson was five months pregnant with her son, she learned that he might have a life-threatening kidney condition. Wylder James Grim Hutcherson was born on March 17, 2017, at Winchester Medical Center, Virginia and diagnosed with hydronephrosis, which afflicts 1 in 100 infants, in which urine swells or backs up the kidney, causing it to swell. On a scale of 1 to 5 in terms of severity, Wylder’s doctors rated his case a 5 plus—one of his doctors calls his case the most drastic she has ever seen. His affected kidney is nonfunctioning, making him prone to infections. His doctors recommend that we wait until he is 2 years of age to remove the failed kidney, which means that Wylder and his family will have to cope with this for another 22 months at least.(Here is Wylder with his big sister Madi.)

Meanwhile Wylder has seen numerous specialists and is taking antibiotics. His next major appointment is May 24 and surgery will likely happen within a matter of weeks, as doctors advise that he be circumcised. He is an otherwise healthy, happy baby, breastfeeding and developing normally, bringing joy to his parents, his 3-year-old big sister Madilyn, and all of us in his family, who are also heartbroken and worried for him. His medical care, newborn care, and added expenses, surgery, and hospital visits, and the missed days of work are also taking a heavy toll on the family’s finances.

His parents, my son James and his wife Jodi, work at two different Buffalo Wild Wings locations—often they literally head out the door and drive off in opposite directions. Jodi is a bartender manager; James recently has had to miss lots of work to take care of Wylder. Their goal is to have opposite work schedules to better coordinate child care, but for now, when their parents are at work, Wylder and Madilyn are cared for by a babysitter or by me (I am their grandmother, Angela) when I am able to make the seven-hour drive from Cherokee, NC.
 

Their insurance is $1,200 a month for mom and both children. Jodi's employers pay nearly 50% but Jodi is still responsible for $600 of that a month.Even once a deductible is met, they are responsible for 30% out of pocket. Already they owe Winchester Medical Center $3,606; they’ve just received an additional bill for lab work totaling $3,932, and they are awaiting a bill from UVA Hospital in Charlottesville. Right now James and Jodi are paying off the bills as they can, $100 here, $150 there. With frequent doctor and hospital visits, child care bills, an upcoming circumcision surgery, and Wylder’s parents needing to miss several days of work for hospital stays and recovery, these bills are going to keep mounting up for the next 2 years until he is able to have kidney surgery. They are also making two car payments, and a $750 mortage. Already they have amassed $2,400 in lost wages. Caring for an infant with a severe kidney condition is a scary thing, but the family is staying strong and focusing on being together and working and raising two happy, healthy children. They are too exhausted to put together a campaign themselves so I am posting this for them. All funds will go directly to Jodi and James. Please give what you can to help support Wylder’s health and to help his parents pay the mounting medical bills so they can ease their mind and be able to focus on his loving care, their top priority, in this very crucial time.