By Brice Burge
Editor In Chief
The MQT community is rallying around Baby Isaiah.
T-shirts, benefit dinners and monetary donations have all been compiled to help offset the increasing medical bills and aid for parents Erica Kaye and Joe Gatiss as they stay in Ann Arbor to stay with the embattled infant.
Editor In Chief
The MQT community is rallying around Baby Isaiah.
T-shirts, benefit dinners and monetary donations have all been compiled to help offset the increasing medical bills and aid for parents Erica Kaye and Joe Gatiss as they stay in Ann Arbor to stay with the embattled infant.
Isaiah was born on January 17, exactly three months before his due date. Isaiah's mother Erica Kaye said she experienced a pregnancy complication called placenta abruption, which occurs when the placental lining has separated from the uterus. It occurs in roughly one percent of pregnancies worldwide and is a major factor in maternal mortality, according to the March of Dimes.
However, the most damage for Isaiah have come from necrotizing enterocolits, also known as NEC. NEC is a bacterial disease that attacks the intestinal wall, killing off parts of the organ. NEC has a high mortality rate and is found primarily in premature babies.
Isaiah received the worst possible outcome of the NEC, when a hole was discovered in his intestines. Bowel perforations in any form, including Isaiah's hole, is treated only through surgery, according to the United States National Library of Medicine.
According to Kaye, the NEC ordeal is past Isaiah, as the perforation has healed.
“We are slowly working on feeding him again and getting his bowels to tolerate and move milk,” Kaye said.
Unfortunately, new problems have emerged. Isaiah was again placed on antibiotics, this time for a kidney infection. Kaye said that fluid has appeared in his lungs, which has made it harder for Isaiah to breathe.
“This last week has been kind of rough,” Kaye said. “We just keep our faith strong and pray a lot.”
Kacie Hanford is the unofficial leader of the aid efforts in MQT. She paid for the “Hope” T-shirts upfront for the donations while helping establishing benefits. She also posts regularly in the Facebook group “Baby Isaiah”, which extends emotional support as well as information about future events.
“This family needs a helping hand and one less thing to worry about,” Hanford said. “You have to keep the love alive.”
According to Hanford, the benefit for Baby Isaiah at the Wild Rover on Sunday, March 9, raised over $2,300 in aid, through an all you can eat spaghetti dinner, 50-50 drawing and silent auction. Another benefit dinner will be at the Up North Lodge on Sunday from 1-4 p.m..
“I cannot explain how unbelievably grateful (Gatiss) and I are with the support show to Isaiah and us,” Kaye said.
T-shirts are available at the Wild Rover and Ore Dock Brewing Company for $18.
Brice Burge is Editor In Chief of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at [email protected].
However, the most damage for Isaiah have come from necrotizing enterocolits, also known as NEC. NEC is a bacterial disease that attacks the intestinal wall, killing off parts of the organ. NEC has a high mortality rate and is found primarily in premature babies.
Isaiah received the worst possible outcome of the NEC, when a hole was discovered in his intestines. Bowel perforations in any form, including Isaiah's hole, is treated only through surgery, according to the United States National Library of Medicine.
According to Kaye, the NEC ordeal is past Isaiah, as the perforation has healed.
“We are slowly working on feeding him again and getting his bowels to tolerate and move milk,” Kaye said.
Unfortunately, new problems have emerged. Isaiah was again placed on antibiotics, this time for a kidney infection. Kaye said that fluid has appeared in his lungs, which has made it harder for Isaiah to breathe.
“This last week has been kind of rough,” Kaye said. “We just keep our faith strong and pray a lot.”
Kacie Hanford is the unofficial leader of the aid efforts in MQT. She paid for the “Hope” T-shirts upfront for the donations while helping establishing benefits. She also posts regularly in the Facebook group “Baby Isaiah”, which extends emotional support as well as information about future events.
“This family needs a helping hand and one less thing to worry about,” Hanford said. “You have to keep the love alive.”
According to Hanford, the benefit for Baby Isaiah at the Wild Rover on Sunday, March 9, raised over $2,300 in aid, through an all you can eat spaghetti dinner, 50-50 drawing and silent auction. Another benefit dinner will be at the Up North Lodge on Sunday from 1-4 p.m..
“I cannot explain how unbelievably grateful (Gatiss) and I are with the support show to Isaiah and us,” Kaye said.
T-shirts are available at the Wild Rover and Ore Dock Brewing Company for $18.
Brice Burge is Editor In Chief of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at [email protected].
READ MORE | ABOUT US Follow MQT Social Scene on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. MQT Social Scene is looking for writers, photographers and graphic artists for internships. For more information, contact us. |
RSS Feed
