Fundraiser for Theodore Dipple and Family

On January 4th, 2023 Gabe & Kaylene welcomed their second son Theodore “Theo” Dipple. Upon welcoming Theo, it was immediately apparent that things were different. He has since been diagnosed with a rare disorder called Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS).

Since his birth in Regina Theo has been moved to the Jim Pattinson Children’s Hospital in saskatoon. He has had a tracheotomy surgery to help secure his airways.

Theo is currently waiting on another surgery that will provide him a feeding tube in his stomach. After this the Dipples will finish their in-hospital training and begin the transition of preparing to go home with their sweet boy. (For more specific details on Theo’s condition + medical care, visit Gabe & Kaylene’s social media pages)

We are asking for your support for the Dipple family as they prepare to bring Theo home. Theo’s needs are going to be very expensive, including: monthly supplies for his tracheotomy, feeding tube, oximeter, heart monitor, etc.

Down the road expenses will continue to be varied. Once he’s older there will likely be trips & extended stays in Toronto for more specialized surgeries to expand his airway.

Thankfully when it comes to medical supplies they will have some coverage from SHA, a bit of help from Telemiracle, and maybe some blue cross coverage with their health benefits. But the list of things they will need to care for Theo is very long, and there’s many aspects of life that won’t be covered/assisted by these organizations.

Theo’s medical care at home will be constant and complex. Kaylene and Gabe have spent the past 4 weeks training with the hospital staff to be able to administer Theo’s tracheotomy care, feeding through a tube, and specialized CPR/resuscitation training. Theo will need one or both of them present pretty much at all times, and cannot be looked after by anyone without the proper training.

This makes work arrangements extremely difficult. Kaylene will not be able to return to work for the next several years because of this, and was not able to have enough work hours in late pregnancy to earn a maternity leave.

Gabe will need to cut back on his own work hours as much as he can manage in order to assist with Theo’s medical care as well as caring for Arthur too. Being self-employed, Gabe does not have the opportunity to take a paid leave from work, either.

We would greatly appreciate if you could support the Dipples. Your financial support will help them care for Theo and plan for his future. All money raised will be used to support Theo and all his needs.

Thank you so much for your prayers, kindness, & generosity. The Dipples are already so grateful for the many ways they’ve been loved, the money raised through this gofundme would bless them even more so.

Thank you thank you thank you!