Medical and living expenses

Hi, my name is Sam. I am a mama to two boys 1 and 4 months old. I gave birth to our youngest son in July and was able to spend about five minutes with him before he was taken to the NICU. Joseph was born with Duodenal Atresia and Esophageal Atresia. His intestines were completely pinched off unable to perform at all causing his stomach to become enlarged as well. His esophagus was not developed in utero and was not attached to anything. Joe has had multiple surgeries with his last one having been a week ago on 11-15-23. Before the surgery we were warned extensively of how big this kind of surgery was. The whole you don’t think that it will happen to you is true. Joe has coded and been bagged numerous times in the span of a week. He is critical and unstable. His lungs kept collapsing, his blood oxygen levels are bad and then they will be good for a day. He is on so many IV medications and machines. His last episode happened yesterday morning. Again bagging was not working and he was not improving. I have been scared to death for the past week. My heart just races all hours of the day and night. Joseph has been in the NICU for 133 days as of today (11-23-23). Levy and I have not seen our 1 year old in ten days now because Joe is not stable enough to leave.

Because of this and the events leading up to while pregnant (high risk pregnancy with Polyhydraminos due to Joe’s condition) we have gone through all that we have. We are scraping by and bills are piling up. We have had to max our credit cards. Levy works an hour away and has had to miss several days. Asking for help is not easy but I do have to try. I would also love any and all thoughts and prayers for our Baby Joe to make it though this. Any amount will help and I know this is asking a lot with Christmas next month. I love and appreciate you all. Happy Holidays.

Update 11-24-23 The Drs came to me with the next option of ECHMO life support. The risks are blood clots, unable to come off of the life support and another I can’t even remember.