Dakota Skye Yenney's Fight Against Congenital CMV

On behalf of my brother and sister-in-law:

Two weeks ago, we were referred to a cardiologist after a routine growth ultrasound found our baby had a “subjectively” enlarged heart with trace fluid. Laura had an echocardiogram that confirmed the findings of the enlarged heart and we were referred to a high risk OB and weekly non stress tests for baby. Two days later Laura went to Northwest Hospital for her first non-stressed test and was subsequently admitted to UW Montlake after the test continued to show that the baby was stressed in her belly. On August 27th, 2022 Laura went into an emergency c section. We were wheeled back to the operation room and at about noon our baby, Dakota Skye Yenney was born weighing in at 3 lb 8 oz. Dakota was then taken with a team of doctors and the fight for her life. I was brought back to the room with Dakota was watched as the doctors stabilized her to move her to the NICU. We have spent the past week watching her struggle through her first week of life. We are both emotionally exhausted. Dakota was born seven weeks early with a condition called congenital CMV, which is a viral illness that is affecting multiple organ systems including her liver, brain, spleen, heart, and lungs. Within the first hour of life she had to have a breathing tube to support her and has since required many rounds of blood and platelet transfusions. She is on an antiviral medication that will help fight the virus, but will require months of treatment to help her fully clear it.

This money will be used for the medical bills we are inevitably going to face, the extensive time away from work, the specialists appointments and any other unforeseen expense that is bound to come our way. We thank you for the love and support.