Medical Expense Help for the Vanderburg Family

On November 1st, Irie woke his parents up in painful tears. After his mother took him to the ER that morning, the doctor had already ordered a pelvic ultrasound that was negative for appendicitis. Irie was sent them home with instructions to take Miralax. After assessing Irie’s symptoms doctors concluded he must just need to use the restroom. However, his mother knew deep down that was not the case so when he spiked a fever and was still in tremendous pain. She took him back to the ER which demanded they perform a pelvic CT and found a pelvic mass. The doctor quickly contacted Doernbechers Children’s Hospital at OHSU in Portland for referral and appointment first thing the next morning. Upon meeting with Irie’s specialist, they soon discovered what he had a rare Pelvic Teratoma Tumor situated so deeply in his pelvis, that it required the professional opinions of a team of highly skilled physicians/surgeons specializing in the removal of rare tumors. The exact direction of the surgery, that is to take place on November 21st, is still unknown. If the tumor is unable to be excised laparoscopically, the doctors will have to flip him over on the operating table and attempt to remove it after entering near his spine. The tumor’s potential, albeit benign or malignant, will not be determined until it is excised and sent to pathology.

Irie’s family is currently doing everything in their power to keep him comfortable and safe for the time being. His mother has had to take leave from work in order to care for Irie at home, and while she isn’t teaching, financial stability is a major concern. The travel costs and emotional hardship has taken its toll and the last thing Irie’s family should have to worry about is money. By the grace of good people, they have been accepted into the Ronald McDonald house for the first four nights of hospital stay, that which they will be spending Thanksgiving.

Please assist the Vanderburg family in any way that you can. Every little bit helps and is more than appreciated