Blake and Cham's Baby Adventure!
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Back in December, our family learned something beautiful: Blake and Chamblee were expecting a baby! As Blake's older sister, nothing gave me more joy than to watch this happy chapter unfold for him and my lovely sister-in-law. It goes without saying, then, that watching them grasp the diagnosis of their baby girl was unbearable to all family and friends close to them.
A few weeks ago, Chamblee and Blake learned that their baby girl has myelomeningocele Spina Bifida; the most common and most severe form that affects babies around the world. A neural tube defect that leaves the spine and associated nerves damaged, this spina bifida diagnosis was at once shocking and saddening. This moment of happiness was turned into one of fear and confusion.
Luckily, Spina Bifida is not a death sentence. Moreover, our God is a good one, and Chamblee and baby girl both qualify for life-changing fetal Spina Bifida surgery at Vanderbilt's children's hospital. While the qualifying process was grueling and the risks of this surgery are high, Chamblee and Blake fearlessly decided that fetal surgery will give their baby girl the best options possible for a healthy life. While fetal surgery will not cure her Spina Bifida (unfortunately, there is no cure), it will preserve as much movement in her lower extremities as possible, it will reduce her need for a brain shunt, and it will reduce her risk of bladder and bowel impairment.
Now here is the part where I get sentimental. Blake is my baby brother and I adore him and love him dearly. Chamblee is the beautiful and funny sister-in-law I never knew I needed. Most importantly, they are the strongest people I have ever known. They have gone through this painful process, they have cried, they have heard things that no new parents should ever have to hear; yet, their faiths are not shaken, their hearts are not broken, and their spirits are not downtrodden. They walk in grace, and they know that God's plans for this baby girl are far greater than we can understand. She's not even here yet, and she has profoundly changed us all.
For this reason, I have set up this page for Blake and Chamblee. I know they will not set it up themselves because they are humble, and they believe they are capable of handling this challenge on their own. However, they shouldn't have to. While insurance will cover many costs of this procedure, it will not cover everything. Furthermore, there are costs that insurance does not take into account. Chamblee will be moving to Nashville for the next several months for surgery, post-operative care, labor and delivery, and, ultimately, time in the NICU until the precious baby is ready to come home. Blake and Chamblee will be responsible for room and board, food, travel expenses for Blake, time off from work, medical copays, unforeseen charges that insurance may not cover for Chamblee and the baby, etc.
I know in my heart that Chamblee and Blake will make this work no matter what. But in the grand scheme of things that they should stress about right now, money is not one of them. Every little bit counts; every dollar helps. Let's show them our love and support.
"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
Intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
The days there formed for me,
When as yet there was none of them."
Psalms 139:13-16
A few weeks ago, Chamblee and Blake learned that their baby girl has myelomeningocele Spina Bifida; the most common and most severe form that affects babies around the world. A neural tube defect that leaves the spine and associated nerves damaged, this spina bifida diagnosis was at once shocking and saddening. This moment of happiness was turned into one of fear and confusion.
Luckily, Spina Bifida is not a death sentence. Moreover, our God is a good one, and Chamblee and baby girl both qualify for life-changing fetal Spina Bifida surgery at Vanderbilt's children's hospital. While the qualifying process was grueling and the risks of this surgery are high, Chamblee and Blake fearlessly decided that fetal surgery will give their baby girl the best options possible for a healthy life. While fetal surgery will not cure her Spina Bifida (unfortunately, there is no cure), it will preserve as much movement in her lower extremities as possible, it will reduce her need for a brain shunt, and it will reduce her risk of bladder and bowel impairment.
Now here is the part where I get sentimental. Blake is my baby brother and I adore him and love him dearly. Chamblee is the beautiful and funny sister-in-law I never knew I needed. Most importantly, they are the strongest people I have ever known. They have gone through this painful process, they have cried, they have heard things that no new parents should ever have to hear; yet, their faiths are not shaken, their hearts are not broken, and their spirits are not downtrodden. They walk in grace, and they know that God's plans for this baby girl are far greater than we can understand. She's not even here yet, and she has profoundly changed us all.
For this reason, I have set up this page for Blake and Chamblee. I know they will not set it up themselves because they are humble, and they believe they are capable of handling this challenge on their own. However, they shouldn't have to. While insurance will cover many costs of this procedure, it will not cover everything. Furthermore, there are costs that insurance does not take into account. Chamblee will be moving to Nashville for the next several months for surgery, post-operative care, labor and delivery, and, ultimately, time in the NICU until the precious baby is ready to come home. Blake and Chamblee will be responsible for room and board, food, travel expenses for Blake, time off from work, medical copays, unforeseen charges that insurance may not cover for Chamblee and the baby, etc.
I know in my heart that Chamblee and Blake will make this work no matter what. But in the grand scheme of things that they should stress about right now, money is not one of them. Every little bit counts; every dollar helps. Let's show them our love and support.
"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
Intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
The days there formed for me,
When as yet there was none of them."
Psalms 139:13-16
Organizer and beneficiary
Liz Ernst
Organizer
Woodstock, GA
Blake Madani
Beneficiary