C.J. & Samantha Schaffer Family Help Fund
Donation protected
Summary
C.J and Samantha are both public servants in the Roanoke Valley. C.J. is a career firefighter and paramedic, Samantha is a elementary school educator. After years of marriage, starting a family was filled with peaks and valleys. Seeking help from fertility specialist, they were able to experience the news that their efforts to conceive a child had come true. These fertility treatments are considered elective and not covered by insurance. These treatments are very expensive and left them with a large bill. That did not matter to them, because they had their prayers answered.
After a healthy, but less than normal pregnancy with COVID-19 and social distancing from loved ones, Samantha and C.J. had a healthy baby boy. Anderson James was born healthy and at full-term. However, the problems for Samantha were just beginning. Having some complications immediately after birth, Samantha was swept away to the operating room for life saving surgery. Her condition resulted in being cared for in the surgical intensive care (SICU). Samantha's situation was tenuous, being left in acute renal failure, nearly blind in one eye and without contact with baby Anderson, there was an uphill climb in front of her.
Doctors in the SICU quickly realized the need to transfer Samantha to Charlottesville, Virginia for more specialized care. Before Samantha was transferred, she began receiving renal dialysis to filter toxins from her blood due to her renal disease. She also was able to hold Anderson for the first time just hours before being transferred.
In Charlottesville, renal specialist continued with a battery of tests and the continuation of renal dialysis to help stabilize and potentially restart Samantha's kidneys. The efforts allowed the doctors to arrive at a diagnosis of HELLP syndrome, but her condition remained after treatments.
After some time in Charlottesville, C.J. and Samantha were in a position to be discharged home with a permanent dialysis port and a renal dialysis schedule of three times a week, four hours each day. She would also need to see a retina specialist to work on restoring her vision and hematology/oncology visits for infusions of medication to help restart kidney function. Her discharge also meant that she and C.J. could be home with baby Anderson and care for him like any new parent should.
C.J. and Samantha are modest, hardworking people that deserve a break in life. Their medical bills and associated costs seem insurmountable. They remain steadfast in their faith and take happiness in their time together with baby Anderson. However, their course as new parents is anything but ordinary.
Full Story
C.J. and Samantha Schaffer are the epitome of a couple that randomly met each other when crossing paths in the course of their occupation, fell in love, married, and wanted nothing more than to start a family. Their path along this journey has been riddled with peaks and valleys that has challenged their very fabric of being.
C.J. is a career firefighter and paramedic, Samantha is an elementary school educator, both in the Roanoke Valley. The two met while Samantha was an Instructional Assistant while completing her requirements to finish her degree and sit for her state license exam. C.J. was at her elementary school as part of a team of firefighters delivering the annual fire safety education week message to the kids in Samantha's class. The two individuals met that day in October and the rest of the story they were one.
They eventually married, never losing sight of their honest and hardworking way of life together. Modesty has been the pillar of their relationship. They cleaned up their own wedding so not to burden others with the task. They have purchased and renovated their home in Roanoke County, completing most of the work themselves. C.J. started a small business of his own, mowing grass and maintaining personal properties. This was a side business to make extra money for comfort and to do things in life together.
Samantha was a licensed educator and C.J. a progressing firefighter and paramedic. They were secure and established as a married couple with their dog Yawkey. The time had come in their marriage to start a family. They tried to conceive a child for months to no avail. Realizing something wasn't right, they began seeking medical opinions and help to better understand their difficulties. They realized in order to conceive a child, it was going to be a step-wise process through the fertility treatments from least invasive to most invasive. These treatments, like most insurances, are largely not covered by their group private insurance. These treatments would have to be paid for out of pocket with financing and life savings.
After failed attempts and conventional fertility treatments and mounting expenses, the two were sent to Charlottesville, Virginia to see a fertility specialist that had success with difficult cases. This move was promising, but not without a large price tag. Cost never deterred the two from their desire to start a family. Without a hesitation, they were back and forth to Charlottesville weekly, timing their treatments and praying for success.
Success finally showed its face. C.J. and Samantha were expecting a baby with a due date in July of 2020. With everything in their lives pointing in a positive direction, their prayers answered, it seemed nothing could get in their way to having that family they always dreamed of having.
In February of 2020, COVID-19 began crippling our country and also turned Samantha's pregnancy into anything other than normal. Samantha's need to social distance and remain COVID-19 free was priority. C.J. and Samantha were both insistent on preventing anything from disrupting a normal and healthy baby from entering this world.
Isolated from their parents and friends, traditional events such as baby showers and christenings were not practical by law and social norms. Nonetheless, they kept their eye on the prize.
The day came and the two were at the hospital ready to meet their baby, which the gender remained a surprise. The baby was entered the world strong and healthy and for a few minutes, their dreams were answered. Their family was whole.
Quickly thereafter a problem emerged with Samantha. The doctor discovered a major postpartum complication developing rapidly. Within minutes, Samantha was whisked away from both C.J., and baby boy Anderson James Schaffer, to the operating room.
Samantha was treated and stabilized in the operating room, but she was in need of intensive care monitoring and treatment. With lab values at dangerous levels, blood product administration was necessary to help her recover. Doctors also discovered that Samantha's kidneys were not working to filter her body like normal kidneys. Keeping a watchful eye on her lab values, doctors decided that renal dialysis was necessary to once again stabilize lab values that were critical to life.
Doctors inserted a temporary dialysis port to quickly access Samantha's blood to filter toxins in a machine and then return the filtered blood back to Samantha. The efforts improved her lab values, but after several days it was clear that her kidneys were not recovering and she needed advanced care by specialist back in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Baby Anderson was well in the hospital nursery, being cared for by the nurses. C.J. was split between the nursery and staying by Samantha's side. Fortunately the two wards were on the same floor, just feet apart through several doors. C.J. and Samantha's other support systems were not allowed into the hospital due to COVID-19 visitation restrictions.
Hours before Samantha was to be transferred to Charlottesville for more specific renal care, a coordinated effort by hospital staff was able to bring baby Anderson in an isolette to the surgical intensive care unit for C.J. and Samantha to be whole again, for a few minutes, before the separation. Samantha was able to feed Anderson a bottle and gave plenty of cuddles before it was time to go.
C.J. and Samantha headed to Charlottesville, Anderson was discharged home with his grandmother where he immediately began being spoiled in ways only grandmothers can.
Once in Charlottesville, back in the intensive care, C.J. and Samantha had teams of doctors and students coming in and out of their room running tests and evaluating her condition. They received excellent care from the nursing staff and physicians. A more permanent dialysis port was placed. Samantha continued regularly scheduled renal dialysis for acute renal failure. Without the renal dialysis, Samantha's blood would become full of toxins, further worsening her condition.
Doctors speculate her condition is a result of a rare complication of childbirth called HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome is a rare but serious condition that can happen when you’re pregnant or right after you have your baby. HELLP stands for the different things that happen when you have it:
Hemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your body, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet counts.
Doctors were able to formulate a cause and craft a treatment plan for Samantha. Parts of her treatment plan includes renal dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for four hours each day. She also receives medication by infusion that must be completed at hematology/oncology center that can infuse medications. Samantha is also experiencing near blindness in one eye, which required her to see a retina specialist to help restore her vision.
With the treatment plan established, appointments scheduled, and her condition stabilized, Samantha has been discharged home with strict guidelines to follow, treatment regiments that cannot be missed, and baby Anderson to care for.
C.J. and Samantha have a new way of life with their new son and the medical hurdles still to maneuver. Samantha's ability to return to the classroom remains in question. Medical bills are starting to pile up, even with private insurance, C.J. and Samantha have thousands of dollars in medical expenses, from the fertilization treatments to intensive care and recurring medication infusions, renal dialysis and retina treatments.
C.J. is anxious to return to his work, which will allow him to start back with his property maintenance to make extra money to help pay for their expenses. The stress of their situation is unimaginable. This fundraiser is a small effort to relieve some of the financial burden and relieve some of the stress. This will allow Samantha to heal and their new family to move on in life together.
C.J. and Samantha are modest, hardworking people that always place the needs of others first. This is an opportunity to return the favor for their public service. They remain private their situation, they sincerely appreciate any thoughts of kindness and want to ensure that these gifts will be used to help with medical bills and expenses to and from appointments.
Learn more about HELLP Syndrome
C.J and Samantha are both public servants in the Roanoke Valley. C.J. is a career firefighter and paramedic, Samantha is a elementary school educator. After years of marriage, starting a family was filled with peaks and valleys. Seeking help from fertility specialist, they were able to experience the news that their efforts to conceive a child had come true. These fertility treatments are considered elective and not covered by insurance. These treatments are very expensive and left them with a large bill. That did not matter to them, because they had their prayers answered.
After a healthy, but less than normal pregnancy with COVID-19 and social distancing from loved ones, Samantha and C.J. had a healthy baby boy. Anderson James was born healthy and at full-term. However, the problems for Samantha were just beginning. Having some complications immediately after birth, Samantha was swept away to the operating room for life saving surgery. Her condition resulted in being cared for in the surgical intensive care (SICU). Samantha's situation was tenuous, being left in acute renal failure, nearly blind in one eye and without contact with baby Anderson, there was an uphill climb in front of her.
Doctors in the SICU quickly realized the need to transfer Samantha to Charlottesville, Virginia for more specialized care. Before Samantha was transferred, she began receiving renal dialysis to filter toxins from her blood due to her renal disease. She also was able to hold Anderson for the first time just hours before being transferred.
In Charlottesville, renal specialist continued with a battery of tests and the continuation of renal dialysis to help stabilize and potentially restart Samantha's kidneys. The efforts allowed the doctors to arrive at a diagnosis of HELLP syndrome, but her condition remained after treatments.
After some time in Charlottesville, C.J. and Samantha were in a position to be discharged home with a permanent dialysis port and a renal dialysis schedule of three times a week, four hours each day. She would also need to see a retina specialist to work on restoring her vision and hematology/oncology visits for infusions of medication to help restart kidney function. Her discharge also meant that she and C.J. could be home with baby Anderson and care for him like any new parent should.
C.J. and Samantha are modest, hardworking people that deserve a break in life. Their medical bills and associated costs seem insurmountable. They remain steadfast in their faith and take happiness in their time together with baby Anderson. However, their course as new parents is anything but ordinary.
Full Story
C.J. and Samantha Schaffer are the epitome of a couple that randomly met each other when crossing paths in the course of their occupation, fell in love, married, and wanted nothing more than to start a family. Their path along this journey has been riddled with peaks and valleys that has challenged their very fabric of being.
C.J. is a career firefighter and paramedic, Samantha is an elementary school educator, both in the Roanoke Valley. The two met while Samantha was an Instructional Assistant while completing her requirements to finish her degree and sit for her state license exam. C.J. was at her elementary school as part of a team of firefighters delivering the annual fire safety education week message to the kids in Samantha's class. The two individuals met that day in October and the rest of the story they were one.
They eventually married, never losing sight of their honest and hardworking way of life together. Modesty has been the pillar of their relationship. They cleaned up their own wedding so not to burden others with the task. They have purchased and renovated their home in Roanoke County, completing most of the work themselves. C.J. started a small business of his own, mowing grass and maintaining personal properties. This was a side business to make extra money for comfort and to do things in life together.
Samantha was a licensed educator and C.J. a progressing firefighter and paramedic. They were secure and established as a married couple with their dog Yawkey. The time had come in their marriage to start a family. They tried to conceive a child for months to no avail. Realizing something wasn't right, they began seeking medical opinions and help to better understand their difficulties. They realized in order to conceive a child, it was going to be a step-wise process through the fertility treatments from least invasive to most invasive. These treatments, like most insurances, are largely not covered by their group private insurance. These treatments would have to be paid for out of pocket with financing and life savings.
After failed attempts and conventional fertility treatments and mounting expenses, the two were sent to Charlottesville, Virginia to see a fertility specialist that had success with difficult cases. This move was promising, but not without a large price tag. Cost never deterred the two from their desire to start a family. Without a hesitation, they were back and forth to Charlottesville weekly, timing their treatments and praying for success.
Success finally showed its face. C.J. and Samantha were expecting a baby with a due date in July of 2020. With everything in their lives pointing in a positive direction, their prayers answered, it seemed nothing could get in their way to having that family they always dreamed of having.
In February of 2020, COVID-19 began crippling our country and also turned Samantha's pregnancy into anything other than normal. Samantha's need to social distance and remain COVID-19 free was priority. C.J. and Samantha were both insistent on preventing anything from disrupting a normal and healthy baby from entering this world.
Isolated from their parents and friends, traditional events such as baby showers and christenings were not practical by law and social norms. Nonetheless, they kept their eye on the prize.
The day came and the two were at the hospital ready to meet their baby, which the gender remained a surprise. The baby was entered the world strong and healthy and for a few minutes, their dreams were answered. Their family was whole.
Quickly thereafter a problem emerged with Samantha. The doctor discovered a major postpartum complication developing rapidly. Within minutes, Samantha was whisked away from both C.J., and baby boy Anderson James Schaffer, to the operating room.
Samantha was treated and stabilized in the operating room, but she was in need of intensive care monitoring and treatment. With lab values at dangerous levels, blood product administration was necessary to help her recover. Doctors also discovered that Samantha's kidneys were not working to filter her body like normal kidneys. Keeping a watchful eye on her lab values, doctors decided that renal dialysis was necessary to once again stabilize lab values that were critical to life.
Doctors inserted a temporary dialysis port to quickly access Samantha's blood to filter toxins in a machine and then return the filtered blood back to Samantha. The efforts improved her lab values, but after several days it was clear that her kidneys were not recovering and she needed advanced care by specialist back in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Baby Anderson was well in the hospital nursery, being cared for by the nurses. C.J. was split between the nursery and staying by Samantha's side. Fortunately the two wards were on the same floor, just feet apart through several doors. C.J. and Samantha's other support systems were not allowed into the hospital due to COVID-19 visitation restrictions.
Hours before Samantha was to be transferred to Charlottesville for more specific renal care, a coordinated effort by hospital staff was able to bring baby Anderson in an isolette to the surgical intensive care unit for C.J. and Samantha to be whole again, for a few minutes, before the separation. Samantha was able to feed Anderson a bottle and gave plenty of cuddles before it was time to go.
C.J. and Samantha headed to Charlottesville, Anderson was discharged home with his grandmother where he immediately began being spoiled in ways only grandmothers can.
Once in Charlottesville, back in the intensive care, C.J. and Samantha had teams of doctors and students coming in and out of their room running tests and evaluating her condition. They received excellent care from the nursing staff and physicians. A more permanent dialysis port was placed. Samantha continued regularly scheduled renal dialysis for acute renal failure. Without the renal dialysis, Samantha's blood would become full of toxins, further worsening her condition.
Doctors speculate her condition is a result of a rare complication of childbirth called HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome is a rare but serious condition that can happen when you’re pregnant or right after you have your baby. HELLP stands for the different things that happen when you have it:
Hemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your body, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet counts.
Doctors were able to formulate a cause and craft a treatment plan for Samantha. Parts of her treatment plan includes renal dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for four hours each day. She also receives medication by infusion that must be completed at hematology/oncology center that can infuse medications. Samantha is also experiencing near blindness in one eye, which required her to see a retina specialist to help restore her vision.
With the treatment plan established, appointments scheduled, and her condition stabilized, Samantha has been discharged home with strict guidelines to follow, treatment regiments that cannot be missed, and baby Anderson to care for.
C.J. and Samantha have a new way of life with their new son and the medical hurdles still to maneuver. Samantha's ability to return to the classroom remains in question. Medical bills are starting to pile up, even with private insurance, C.J. and Samantha have thousands of dollars in medical expenses, from the fertilization treatments to intensive care and recurring medication infusions, renal dialysis and retina treatments.
C.J. is anxious to return to his work, which will allow him to start back with his property maintenance to make extra money to help pay for their expenses. The stress of their situation is unimaginable. This fundraiser is a small effort to relieve some of the financial burden and relieve some of the stress. This will allow Samantha to heal and their new family to move on in life together.
C.J. and Samantha are modest, hardworking people that always place the needs of others first. This is an opportunity to return the favor for their public service. They remain private their situation, they sincerely appreciate any thoughts of kindness and want to ensure that these gifts will be used to help with medical bills and expenses to and from appointments.
Learn more about HELLP SyndromeOrganizer and beneficiary
Matthew Rickman
Organizer
Roanoke, VA
CJ Schaffer
Beneficiary