Your Heart to Hers: Helping Layla
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From Your Heart To Hers: Help Support Layla's Family As She Heals from Heart Failure
PLEASE SEE UPDATE BELOW THE ORIGINAL POST - THANK YOU.
Layla is the light and love of her parents' lives. She is 18 months old, silly, feisty, curious, strong-willed, and sweet. She loves sleeping with a baby doll under each arm, reading books, playing in the bath, and dancing.
Layla has not been able to do those things that she loves since she has been in the hospital. On Thursday, December 17th, after several trips to the pediatrician for what they thought was a virus, Layla was hospitalized with pneumonia. The X-ray revealed that her heart was larger than they would expect for her age. After a series of tests, the doctor determined that Layla was in heart failure. She was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where they were able to insert a PICC line and have an artificial heart available in case one was necessary. The PICC line is to make treatment easier for Layla. The medical team is testing to determine the cause. Whatever the cause, the family will be there for a minimum of 3 weeks, potentially much longer. There are equally likely chances that her condition could worsen, stay the same, or resolve with treatment. As her family, we are trying to be optimistic, and we are hopeful that she will improve with the treatment she is currently on.
During this frightening and overwhelming time, Rachel and Stan will need a lot of support, including financial, given the seriousness of her condition and the length of her hospital stay. Rachel is not going back to work to ensure she is there to care for Layla and Stan will be taking time off using FMLA, but that time is unpaid. If you should decide to donate, your money would go toward mortgage payments, utilities, car insurance and other monthly expenses that will be difficult without an income. It will also go toward expenses from being in the hospital including meals and potentially accommodations at Ronald McDonald House. Even the smallest amount would mean a great deal. We have been amazed at and grateful for the love and support we have already seen their friends and family give. The less Rachel and Stan have to worry about, the more they can continue to wrap their arms around Layla as she tries to get better. If you cannot make a donation right now, we ask that you might share this information, say a prayer, or send a healing thought for our little Layla, and we will whisper those in her ear. Layla is fighting with everything she has.
UPDATE...
Although this has been a terrifying time for all of our family, but especially for Rachel and Stan, we have also seen the best in people. Friends and family and even strangers have reached out, said prayers, lit candles, hugged us tight, donated their time, money, and given of themselves in so many ways. This has been more than comforting. We have cried at the beauty in humanity - at the kindness and compassion of our people.
Layla is looking much better in her demeanor. She is eating a bit more, sleeping a bit more, and even playing a bit. However her heart function remains the same. We have decided to increase the amount that we are fundraising to take into consideration the many costs of care.
Stan and Rachel are very tired, and the hospital room feels very small. However they have been so grateful that the word grateful doesn't even begin to capture how they feel.
PLEASE SEE UPDATE BELOW THE ORIGINAL POST - THANK YOU.
Layla is the light and love of her parents' lives. She is 18 months old, silly, feisty, curious, strong-willed, and sweet. She loves sleeping with a baby doll under each arm, reading books, playing in the bath, and dancing.
Layla has not been able to do those things that she loves since she has been in the hospital. On Thursday, December 17th, after several trips to the pediatrician for what they thought was a virus, Layla was hospitalized with pneumonia. The X-ray revealed that her heart was larger than they would expect for her age. After a series of tests, the doctor determined that Layla was in heart failure. She was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where they were able to insert a PICC line and have an artificial heart available in case one was necessary. The PICC line is to make treatment easier for Layla. The medical team is testing to determine the cause. Whatever the cause, the family will be there for a minimum of 3 weeks, potentially much longer. There are equally likely chances that her condition could worsen, stay the same, or resolve with treatment. As her family, we are trying to be optimistic, and we are hopeful that she will improve with the treatment she is currently on.
During this frightening and overwhelming time, Rachel and Stan will need a lot of support, including financial, given the seriousness of her condition and the length of her hospital stay. Rachel is not going back to work to ensure she is there to care for Layla and Stan will be taking time off using FMLA, but that time is unpaid. If you should decide to donate, your money would go toward mortgage payments, utilities, car insurance and other monthly expenses that will be difficult without an income. It will also go toward expenses from being in the hospital including meals and potentially accommodations at Ronald McDonald House. Even the smallest amount would mean a great deal. We have been amazed at and grateful for the love and support we have already seen their friends and family give. The less Rachel and Stan have to worry about, the more they can continue to wrap their arms around Layla as she tries to get better. If you cannot make a donation right now, we ask that you might share this information, say a prayer, or send a healing thought for our little Layla, and we will whisper those in her ear. Layla is fighting with everything she has.
UPDATE...
Although this has been a terrifying time for all of our family, but especially for Rachel and Stan, we have also seen the best in people. Friends and family and even strangers have reached out, said prayers, lit candles, hugged us tight, donated their time, money, and given of themselves in so many ways. This has been more than comforting. We have cried at the beauty in humanity - at the kindness and compassion of our people.
Layla is looking much better in her demeanor. She is eating a bit more, sleeping a bit more, and even playing a bit. However her heart function remains the same. We have decided to increase the amount that we are fundraising to take into consideration the many costs of care.
Stan and Rachel are very tired, and the hospital room feels very small. However they have been so grateful that the word grateful doesn't even begin to capture how they feel.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alisha Deurloo Neumann
Organizer
Tucson, AZ
Rachel Simmons
Beneficiary