Ella's Lifesaving Surgery Support - Jeremy Young

Hi, My name is Syndee and I am fundraising to assist Jeremy and Lucy Young with living expenses as they stay stateside with infant daughter, Ella. Ella is currently admitted to The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She is undergoing further diagnostic testing and the final diagnosis and plan will be revealed in the next few days.

Jeremy and Lucy did not ask for this support - I felt compelled to request for the need I see occurring. These parent's concern is for the care of their precious baby, Ella and getting her the best treatment possible. I believe this will help alleviate the burden that is present and help them concentrate on tough decisions they will be faced with and just the daily joys they should be experiencing.

Ella arrived a little earlier than expected and it is not uncommon that preterm babies are more affected with newborn jaundice. This was treated during additional hospitalizations in Abu Dhabi. When the jaundice persisted, more testing led to a diagnosis of biliary atresia. Without a lifesaving surgery known as a Kasai procedure, Ella's liver will fail.

Biliary atresia is a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants. When a baby has biliary atresia, bile flow from the liver to the gall bladder is blocked. This causes the bile to be trapped inside the liver, quickly causing damage and scaring to the liver cells called cirrhosis, and eventually liver failure.

While most new families are settling in to a normal routine and watching their newborn grow and develop, Jeremy and Lucy have been dealing with not knowing what was affecting their long awaited little bundle of joy. The first 5 weeks of her life has involved lab tests, scans, treatments, and medications. She will be on this journey for the rest of her life, but these first two months are the most critical.

As testing completed in Abu Dhabi, international travel to the US opened. This allowed Jeremy and Lucy to seek care in the US for baby Ella. Ella and Jeremy could travel freely, but Lucy, a Czech citizen, could not. Ella's US passport was expedited and here they are, back in the US. The Cleveland Clinic has pediatric gastro-intestinal specialist and surgeons skilled in the Kasai procedure. This procedure removes the damaged bile ducts and connects the small intestine to the liver allowing the bile to drain and do it's crucial jobs. Eventually, Ella will need a liver transplant - maybe at age 1 or 43. Perhaps new treatments will emerge.

Living expenses will add up quickly with hotel, food, transport (one way airfare alone was over $13,000 for Jeremy and Lucy), laundry, etc. The family is currently housed in a hotel on hospital campus, but as plans are finalized they will look for longer term housing with kitchen facilities - possible Ronald McDonald House. Jeremy's mom, Kay, has been able to be with them during this journey and has been a great support. Grandpa Jerry to visit later this week.

The hospital allows one parent to stay with Ella and an additional visitor between the hours of 9am and 9pm. This allows them to trade off and support each other. Cards with your love and support would be welcome at the following address:

Ella Marie Young

9500 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44195

Jeremy and Lucy met while working in the medical field in Saudi Arabia. Now married and residing in Abu Dhabi, Jeremy is a paramedic and Lucy a nurse. Both have worked in the frontlines throughout the pandemic while being separated from family and friends.

While we all planned for the arrival of our little ones, this was a totally unforeseen detour in the game of life for the Youngs. Jeremy will need to return to Abu Dhabi for work. That is going to be a hard one. Lucy will take a leave of absence from her job. Ella and Lucy will continue to get support from family while in Ohio.

Please consider prayers for this new family and any financial donation that will be used to offset their increased and unplanned expenses and decreased income.