Help Support our Friends Zach & Eileen

Zach and Eileen are the kindest souls imaginable. They welcomed their first little boy Dean just over 5 months ago. Over the last month these two parents have endured what no parent should have to, their child being ill, needing extended hospitalization.

Roughly at 4 months old Dean showed his first sign something was wrong causing their first visit to the Emergency Department. After evaluation, no explanation or findings found, they were sent home to monitor their baby boy. As days went on, monitoring continued, and three weeks later Dean showed yet another sign that something was not right.

Zach and Eileen brought Dean back to the hospital for evaluation, determining that Deans blood sugar level was dangerously low and staying there. Over the last two weeks at our local Children’s Hospital, Dean was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Congenital HyperInsulinism (HI), affecting only 1 in 25,000 to 50,000 babies.

Congenital HI is described as when the pancreas secretes too much insulin causing low (in this case very low) blood sugar. Low blood sugar can be very dangerous, especially continuous low blood sugars, if it is too low for too long it can cause issues within the brain like seizures or worse.

The great team started him on a medication which he did not respond to, even at the max dose. This diagnosis is so rare many Children’s Hospitals only see 1 or 2 cases per year. Therefore, with the lack of response and lack of resources, his team and parents decided to transfer him to the BEST of the best Children’s Hospital specializing in HyperInsulinism. This hospital has better equipment and expertise, guaranteeing the Dean gets the most accurate treatment possible.

However, this hospital is sadly out of state, hours away. This road is not over and they will most likely need to “settle in” for a few more weeks. Zach is still a student and will be needing to drive back and forth for classes to pursue his career. Eileen will need to continue taking more time from work which may end up being not paid due to using her PFL to spend time with Dean as a newborn after delivery.

Any donation will help ease their worries and allow them to best focus on what is most important, their child.  Luckily, Dean is a super tough WARRIOR. We are all routing for you Dean!!