Surviving Aydin's C.H.A.O.S

Hi my name is Soroya, and I'm fundraising for my nephew Aydin and his parents, Yadi and Jamaal Martin.

Their story is filled with ups-and-downs, heartache, faith and hope. After 4 prior miscarriages, the Martins were so excited to welcome their first child. 24 weeks into the pregnancy, they discovered some abnormalities with the baby. He had overinflated lungs and a large amount of fluid in his stomach. It was confirmed then Aydin has what is known as CHAOS (congenital high airway obstruction syndrome). An extremely rare and serious condition, Aydin has a complete blockage of his windpipe. This would make breathing impossible and fatal for Aydin after a traditional delivery.

Determined to become a family of three, the Martin’s went to NYU Langone. On August 3, 2021, 35 weeks and 3 days into Yadi’s pregnancy, a multidisciplinary team performed a highly specialized at-birth surgical approach called an EXIT procedure. This high-risk delivery saved Aydin by establishing a tracheostomy mid-birth to allow Aydin to breathe once separated from mom.

After the care team successfully established an airway, Aydin went into cardiac arrest due to the pressure the inflated lungs had put on his heart. After trying to resuscitate him, the doctors decided to put him on ECMO life support to allow Aydin’s lungs and heart to heal. With CHAOS can come other accompanying problems, to which the Martins discovered Aydin’s anus had not formed properly, along with a congenital heart defect. Nevertheless, while in the NICU over the next 5 and a half months, Aydin miraculously got stronger. He underwent various other procedures, including open-heart surgery to correct his congenital heart defect and a procedure to fix his anorectal malformation. He defied all odds, all the while charming everyone he came in contact with.

In January 2022, he was finally discharged to a rehab hospital in New Jersey, where Yadi and Jamaal received training to care for him in preparation to take Aydin home. That didn't come without stress and challenges. The Martins drove around 2 hours from their home in Brooklyn, NY to be with him. After 6 months—3 weeks before his 1st birthday—Aydin was discharged to the care of his parents.

They have done everything they can to give Aydin the best care possible, overcoming insurance coverage issues and countless hurdles along the way. Aydin has a few more surgeries ahead of him to breathe independently, including reconstruction of his airway and rebuilding his voice box. He receives occupational, speech, and physical therapy regularly to help him learn and grow outside the hospital.

Although his 1st year has been challenging, Aydin is an incredible human, full of joy and energy. Yadi and Jamaal are super-parents, navigating the complexities of CHAOS—wanting nothing more than to give Aydin a “normal” life. Despite the hardships over the last two years, the courage, tenacity, strength, and love they share with Aydin and everyone in their lives, is a true inspiration and testament to how extraordinary they are. Yadi and Jamaal believe everything happens for a reason, and God and Aydin chose them. They handle everything with a positive attitude despite the difficulties they have faced. If you can donate even the smallest amount, thank you! If you cannot contribute financially but can send positive thoughts and prayers, please send them their way!

Thank you all!