Support the Parks Family - Critical Heart Defect

My sister Meghan and Brother-In-Law Derek just had their second child, Malakai. He was born on January 3, 2023. Malakai has a Critical Congenital Heart Defect. The issue was identified as a concern during a routine anatomy scan at 20 weeks, and diagnosed with a specialized ultrasound & fetal echo at 24 weeks. Malakai has been diagnosed with tricuspid stenosis, hypoplasia of the right ventricle, aortic arch hypoplasia (underdeveloped right chamber & main artery), and transposition of the great arteries (TGA is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed). His right chamber didn’t form correctly & he will be what is considered a “single ventricle baby”. It will take at least 2-3 surgeries to make the repairs necessary for him to live his life.

We live in outstate MN, and due to the complexity of the heart issues and the need for critical care, Meghan had to transfer all of her prenatal & birthing care to the University of MN Masonic Children’s Hospital. While we are very thankful to have this option (they are amazing), this hospital is over 3 hours from her home (and all of her family).

Even though we have known about the defect since before he was born, nothing can prepare you for the emotional, physical and financial toll this is going to take on them.

Malakai will be in the hospital for 6 - 8 weeks (his first open-heart surgery will be within the first 2 weeks after birth). Once they discharge him from the hospital, due to the distance from the hospital to their home, they are not allowed to go “home” like normal families. They have to stay in the cities. They do not want Malakai that far from the hospital, plus he will be required to have 1 - 2 visits each week with the cardiologist until his second surgery (between 4 - 6 months).

I didn’t mention that Meghan has an 18-month-old son at home that she will be away from during this time.

Meghan will be staying with Malakai (not working) while he's in the hospital. There are huge expenses that Meghan & Derek will be incurring; travel back and forth to the cities (Derek will be traveling back & forth each week), unknown expenses of staying in the cities for 5 plus months (anticipated), medical expenses (I can only imagine what the bills are going to be for multiple pediatric open-heart surgeries & critical care), plus all the normal expenses of "regular life" (mortgage, utilities, daycare costs for the 18-month-old). They are going to need financial help to get through this, along with emotional support.

I will be visiting Meghan as much as I can (which isn’t enough), I have started this Go-Fund-Me to try to help with their financial needs. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated.