Hello Everyone!
Dominic James(l) and Jackson Garth(r)
On December 31, 2008, my brother Brent and his wife Marcy became parents to twin boys. Born at just under 24 weeks, Jackson weighed 1lb 7oz and Dominic 1lb 3oz. Jackson came home in May, however Dominic remained in the hospital until December of 2009. His lungs did not function properly, and unable to breath on his own, he eventually had a tracheotomy and was hooked up to a ventilator. He was home for just a couple of short weeks before he had a set back right before Christmas. Over the holiday and for several weeks after, Dominic remained in a coma fighting for his life. The doctors were not hopeful, but as Dominic always does, he surprised everyone by slowly recovering. He was sent home again, and in early spring we finally celebrated his first birthday along with his brother.
First birthday celebration-finally!
Unfortunately, Dominic was never home for more than a couple of days at a time. He would have a setback, remain in the hospital for a while, and then return home; repeat. In May, Brent and Marcy learned that Dominic's condition was terminal, and that a lung transplant was the only thing that may extend the length on his life. The transplant would have to take place at the St. Louis Children's Hospital, but first Dominic would have to be flown down there and evaluated to see if he was even a candidate for organ transplant.
Brent and Dominic flew down there at the end of June. Marcy stayed at home with Jackson, and because Mother Nature sometimes has an agenda all her own, they were also expecting a baby girl in July. The social worker told my brother that according to the hospital, he and Dominic should be back in 4-5 days. When the doctors went in and placed the stents in Dominic's heart, they found out his heart was in much worse shape then they had previously thought. In fact the one side of the heart that they thought was in better condition turned out to be damaged as well. The doctors decided it would be much better to keep Dominic at the hospital until they could decide if he was a candidate for transplant. My brother and his wife could then weigh their options, and if they went ahead with the surgery then they would also need to relocate to St. Louis for at least 10 months. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
My brother was able to take the train back this past Thursday, in time to be there for the birth of his daughter Piper Ann (huge compared to her brothers at 8lb 1oz). He needs to return as soon as possible as the doctors did not even want him to leave at all. Even though they believe in what they are doing, and that they are willing to sacrifice time together, it has been difficult.
What I am asking for is simple-help. My brother, like so many others in Michigan, lost his job in 2008-shortly before the boys were born. I will be honest-a job was the last thing on his mind after the birth of his boys. So what do I ask from you then? Anything you can spare. I have set up a Paypal account, and the money collected there would help pay for some of their expenses: groceries, cab fare-things of that nature.
The boys receive Social Security due to their early birth, and they are also on medicare, so there's at least not the concern about paying medical bills-yet. Dominic has received his lung transplant, and as of right now their entire family is living in the Ronald McDonald apartment. Marcy does come home occasionally, as her and the kids need to go to their doctor appointments. It is a huge expense as you can imagine to travel back to Michigan, and of course the return trip to St. Louis. It also goes without saying how much we all miss them!
I do know one thing-
Brent and Dominic flew down there at the end of June. Marcy stayed at home with Jackson, and because Mother Nature sometimes has an agenda all her own, they were also expecting a baby girl in July. The social worker told my brother that according to the hospital, he and Dominic should be back in 4-5 days. When the doctors went in and placed the stents in Dominic's heart, they found out his heart was in much worse shape then they had previously thought. In fact the one side of the heart that they thought was in better condition turned out to be damaged as well. The doctors decided it would be much better to keep Dominic at the hospital until they could decide if he was a candidate for transplant. My brother and his wife could then weigh their options, and if they went ahead with the surgery then they would also need to relocate to St. Louis for at least 10 months. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
My brother was able to take the train back this past Thursday, in time to be there for the birth of his daughter Piper Ann (huge compared to her brothers at 8lb 1oz). He needs to return as soon as possible as the doctors did not even want him to leave at all. Even though they believe in what they are doing, and that they are willing to sacrifice time together, it has been difficult.
What I am asking for is simple-help. My brother, like so many others in Michigan, lost his job in 2008-shortly before the boys were born. I will be honest-a job was the last thing on his mind after the birth of his boys. So what do I ask from you then? Anything you can spare. I have set up a Paypal account, and the money collected there would help pay for some of their expenses: groceries, cab fare-things of that nature.
The boys receive Social Security due to their early birth, and they are also on medicare, so there's at least not the concern about paying medical bills-yet. Dominic has received his lung transplant, and as of right now their entire family is living in the Ronald McDonald apartment. Marcy does come home occasionally, as her and the kids need to go to their doctor appointments. It is a huge expense as you can imagine to travel back to Michigan, and of course the return trip to St. Louis. It also goes without saying how much we all miss them!
I do know one thing-
THIS LITTLE BOY IS PRICELESS!
Dominic and I the night before he left for St. Louis
