Fundraising Support for Theo Madison

Theodore River Madison was born at 7:13 am on November 2nd. Through some unforeseen circumstances, Theo developed HIE, which stands for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. HIE occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen, causing brain injury that has lasting impacts on Theo’s life.

Within Theo’s first 24 hours of life, he was admitted to the NICU at Hershey Medical Center and immediately placed on a hypothermia protocol for 72 hours to decrease the risk of seizure events due to brain damage from HIE. Theo was given hypothermia treatment, which cools down the body temperature to decrease the inflammation that the brain and body organs sustained from HIE. Unfortunately, Theo suffered from many seizures during this period despite these preventative measures. After the 72-hour hypothermia protocol, Theo’s body was rewarmed, and Theo’s breathing started to decline, leading to a brief period of time he was on a ventilator and was placed on medications to manage blood pressure and decrease seizure activity. These days were filled with anxiety, grief, and prayers that Theo’s life would be preserved and hope would remain.

Fast forward to today, Theo is now breathing fine on his own and has no need for any anti-seizure or blood pressure medications. A brain MRI was done a few weeks ago that revealed Theo’s brain sustained residual damage from HIE. This first year of Theo’s life will be vital to assess how HIE and Theo’s brain damage will manifest.

Theo’s brain damage has affected the motor function of feeding, which makes the coordination of sucking and swallowing difficult. For the past few weeks, Theo has been getting half of his milk through a bottle and about half through his NGT (naso-gastric tube, going from his nose into his gut). Julia and Dan will be working at home with Theo to increase his bottle feedings so he gets more by bottle and needs his NGT less and less, with the hopes of eventually not needing his NGT at all. On the flip side, if Theo cannot progress in his suck/swallow coordination to drink more from a bottle, a decision will be made in about a month where a PEG tube might be appropriate to keep Theo fed and thriving. A PEG tube is a surgical incision directly in Theo’s gut that is a more permanent way to give nutrition. It is Julia and Dan’s hope and prayer to keep working on Theo’s feeding to avoid the PEG tube. They will need hours of help and support by caregivers and in therapy to continue to work towards that goal of Theo being fed exclusively by a bottle.

Julia and Dan covet your prayers and your support more than anything else. They will have many practical needs as they transition home from leaving the NICU: meals, childcare, getting Theo to his many appointments, therapy, and postpartum support for Julia. We are asking in this crucial transition period for a financial gift to the Madison family for their many needs. Thank you for your continued care that you pour out to them, as well as covering them with prayers and support. Thank you for standing with them during a very difficult time. Your care for them means more than you will ever know ♥️