Help Support James Rodriguez Medical Journey

Funds have been set into a bank account with James as the Trust. Only costs for James are used with this money,

***UPDATE ON JAMES RODRIGUEZ***

Little James has been doing the best someone who is 7 lbs 8 oz can do. Monday he had a kidney ultrasound and there are 3-4 cysts on his kidneys still. He has 4-5 doctor appointments this week, lots of back and forth for Mom.

Turns out, with Jamie on disability leave with him his insurance has not been renewed. Mind you, he just turned 2 months old and is suffering from skin break down from the colostomy, fussiness from being premature. I had the pleasure of holding him so much three weeks ago and cannot wait to see him again.

Mom and Dad are the best parents ever, I witnessed it myself. James is so lucky to have them both and Grandma Dawn with him. Please send prayers. We are going to try to get him on disability, wish us blessings. So much money in Chicago and now to add no insurance. Please bless this family.

He will have a surgery in February for his Imperforate Anus issue and then again at one year old. Around February they will be looking again to see whether or not he needs surgery on the two issues in his little baby spine. Please keep your prayers coming! Thank you all!

###UPDATE ON JAMES RODRIGUEZ ###

He is gaining weight, thank God. But this little rascal pulled his NG tube out last night. In the midst of nerve wrecking atmosphere, daddy had to put the NG tube back in. His little hands were on lockdown. The colostomy bag will not stay on. Please continue your prayers and donations to help them, help him. Thank you all.

°°°UPDATE ON BABY JAMES°°°

James came home last night. Mommy and Daddy had some issues with his bag but overall the night was good. Today they are just testing and not driving to the hospital. I'm so proud of them. Thank you all for your blessings and donations.

•• UPDATE ON BABY JAMES ••

James now weighs 5 pounds 10 ounces!! Mom and dad are going to have serious discussions with his medical team to see if they can bring him home on the NG tube.

Everyday he is reaching little milestones and very little setbacks. His medical team has decided they will start doing his surgeries when he is 6 months old.

Thank you all who have prayed, shared this post and those that have donated. We appreciate all of you!

**UPDATE ON JAMES**

James now weighs 5 pounds and 1 ounce. He is having some troubles with the colostomy bag staying on, but they will get through this. He had Echo down yesterday and the hole in his heart is getting smaller. The doctors have decided to not do any of his surgeries until he is six months of age. James and his mommy and daddy just want him to come home. He has to grow some more and become more consistent with his feedings before that can happen. Thank you for your kindness and prayers. Please share this fundraiser if you can. They just want to be with him and missing work for dad right now is hard and mom will soon have no more maternity leave, but as we all know, she is going to have to stay with him as this is not a baby that can go into daycare. Thank you!

**UPDATE ON BABY JAMES**

James and parents have been striving towards the goal of James eating 45ml of milk at each feeding. Once he accomplishes this he can go home until his first of 3 surgeries (that we are aware of). He has received his colostomy bag. He is just beautiful and perfect. Thank you all for sharing and praying and your most generous donations.

**UPDATE ON BABY JAMES**

James celebrated his 1-week birthday yesterday and we all could not be prouder of him. He was able to drink from a bottle for the very first time yesterday! Very exciting! He is strong and very loved. In his first week he underwent his first surgery wherein the brought to parts of his intestine to the outside of his belly. He is handling this procedure really well. They were able to lower his oxygen levels, and they are thinking by the end of the week they should be able to take him off the oxygen as he is doing really good. He is slated for a spinal x-ray this week. In approximately three weeks they will give him a colostomy bag and perhaps get him ready to come home. Once home he will have two more surgeries ahead of him, one at 4 months old and another at 6 months old. Rick and Jamie are the absolute best parents, they are with him constantly only taking an hour break for food every day. We are grateful for the doctors, nurses and staff at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital. We are grateful for all of your prayers, donations and phone calls. Thank you all. God is good. Please keep the prayers and donations coming, this is allowing them to love and give James a better start and give him the comfort of having his parents with him.

Little James Robert Rodriguez came into this world the morning of August 26th at 12:53 a.m. He is 4 pounds, 15 ounces and 17.5 inches long. His proud parents are Rick Rodriguez and my daughter, Jamie Marting. They made a beautiful baby.

Sweet baby James unfortunately was born with some very serious medical conditions and was transported to Lurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago where he is to undergo some surgeries. The doctors feel that after his surgeries, it may not be until 3 or so months that he will be able to come home as his surgeries are complex.

Inasmuch as they have health insurance and some small safety nets, nothing could prepare them for the medical journey they are about to enter. This is going to be such a financial hardship on them as they will miss time from work, parking in Chicago, fuel costs driving back and forth daily just to see their little one.

We ask, if you have to spare, could you please help these kids out as they will be taking much time off of work to see the baby and make sure he has nurture on his side.

Rick and Jamie are two smart kids who first started dating as sophomores in high school. They were responsible and finished school, Jamie received a master's degree, they just bought their first home a year ago. As you can imagine, having your first-born child coming into this world so very sick, they feel so heartbroken and helpless.

If you cannot offer them money to help them get through the upcoming hardships, could you please pray for them and baby James Robert, who is named after his late grandfather, Robert James Marting.

Our entire family thanks you for all of the kind thoughts and prayers.