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Dear Faith’s Hope and all the generous donators,
I would like to introduce myself and my family. My name is Jamie and my husband, Kristopher and I have been married four years. We had our first baby, Aidan, last August. Aidan was beautiful and what we thought a healthy baby boy. We were so excited, happy and thankful for we were taking our baby home and beginning the next chapter of our lives. It was three hours after discharge that we noticed our son having trouble breathing. We rushed him to the hospital by our house (not the one he was born at for my doctor was not staffed there). After four hours of uncertainty and many, many tests, the doctor was still not sure what was wrong with Aidan.
The doctor phoned the nearest hospital equipped with a Neonatal Unit, and it was the doctor on call at that hospital who diagnosed our sons’ heart defect and immediately and sent his transport team and medicine that Aidan needed to stay alive. During transport Aidan coded! At the second hospital my husband and I found out about Aidan’s heart defect and how critical he was. We were told if he was a candidate, he would undergo a series of three open heart surgeries or need a heart transplant. My husband had no choice but to take an extended leave from work without pay, so he could be at the hospital when needed.
We learned very quickly that money was becoming short and that the world and our responsibility (bills) wouldn’t stop because we were facing a crisis. After a week-and-a-half things began looking better for our son and he became a candidate for the series of three surgeries. Thankfully and Lord willing, Aidan did well and after 26 days at the hospital we were on our way home. My maternity leave was also ending and I was left no choice but, to quit my job due to our son’s needs. Having a heart defect, Aidan is watched and monitored very closely on a monthly basis, and sometimes more. In between the first and second surgeries it was crucial that Aidan was homebound because of risk of infection and germs. Even the common cold or flu could be very dangerous for Aidan and his heart and could hospitalize him. So for almost 11 months Aidan and I only left our house to go to doctor’s appointments or to one of the grandparents’ houses. Aidan has a pediatrician, cardiologist, heart surgeon, pulmonologist and soon a physical and occupational therapist.
The past year has been very hard, emotional and trying. My husband and I were watching our baby die, we’ve seen Aidan through two open heart surgeries, our marriage was tested, differences between our families arose, Kris lost one fulltime job, we had two trucks repossessed, we continue struggling financially, were denied help from our State and are about to file bankruptcy.
The past year has also been very happy, joyous and faith building. My husband and I are forever grateful for our son’s life and have been very dedicated and devoted to our faith. I also believe that the Lord led me to this wonderful foundation, Faith’s Hope. I went on the internet, did a search for, “help for families with sick children,” and came across Faith’s Hope Foundation’s website, of which we are very grateful. We cannot put into words the gratitude we have for all Marcus’ time and work he and the organization are putting in to helping our family. Our son Aidan is a Miracle and gift blessed from above as is Faith's Hope and all who help make this organization possible, especially all the generous donators. We would like to thank each and every one of you, who is making this help possible for our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please know that you are helping us keep our house, and keeping our gas on with the few bills that have been paid. Thank you and God bless all of you.
Sincerely,
The LaForests
Kristopher, Jamie and Aidan |
