Had some serious losses and now need to catch up on mortgage
My Birthday:
October 17
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My URL: http://www.microgiving.com/profile/jennim Offline |
Member Since: 06/04/10 | Login Count: 28 | Profile Views: 849 | Last Login: 10/05/10
Biography
My name is Jenni and I am a wife and a mother of 4 beautiful children. My husband’s name is Bob. My oldest son, John, is 12. My daughter, Haley, is 9. My son, Tyler, is 2. Sadly, my last son, Evan, is an angel looking down and watching us all. We have little family other then our own and my husband and I have been independent since we were young teenagers.
It began in late 2008 when my husband was having extreme knee pain. It ended up being that due to his working conditions he obtained a fracture under his knee cap and wore out cartilage. This required surgery. We filed a workman’s' comp claim, as his injuries were due to work. We scheduled surgery for March and waited for the workman’s' comp verdict. Well with that run-around he had the surgery. A couple weeks after the letter came stating that there was no specific incident and his claim was denied. Now, with no money coming in from him, he had a 6 month recovery ahead of him. I was working, but my pay didn't make all the bills. Luckily, my grandmother was able to help us with all the major bills at that time. After that my husband underwent 2 more surgeries. He had a vasectomy in July and a tonsillectomy in August.
In between all of that I was suffering from carpal tunnel and had gone to the hospital on July 14, 2009 due to the severe pain. While at the hospital I found out we were pregnant with our fourth child. He was due 2/24/2010, on our 6 year wedding anniversary. I was excited because we wanted four and it was going to happen. My husband was scheduled for a vasectomy for the 31st because we thought we were done when we weren’t getting pregnant. I went and told my manager about the findings in regards to my carpal tunnel and my new pregnancy. On August 1st I was let go from the company. Now we truly had no income. I filed for unemployment so at least we had that. We were also able to get some food stamps at that time since my husband was not working.
In September 2009 my husband went back to work because he had to not because his knee was feeling any better. He had to give his truck back to the finance company and we were able to modify our mortgage. Things were looking like they were going to be okay. We all went to our 20 week ultrasound on October 8th. We were excited to see our new addition. Those feelings would be short lived. I went into the room by myself first while they took all the informational views. I knew something was up with the look on the tech’s face, but she didn’t say anything. I waited till my family came in and we all saw our sweet baby on the screen. Still with nothing said I thought no more of it. She said it looked like a boy. He was sucking his thumb and showing us his feet. We left so much more excited, except for my daughter who really wanted a sister.
The next day was a Friday the kids had a three day weekend. I will never forget this day as long as I live, it changed me forever. The phone rang, it was my Ob-Gyn. He proceeded to state that the ultrasound showed that the kidneys were enlarged and my fluid was very low. He wanted me to go to a doctor at the University of Chicago to verify diagnosis, “to make sure it was not poly-cystic kidney disease.” I panicked and immediately ran to the computer and pulled up the internet. It was not good at all in any sense of any word. I called my husband frantic begging him to come home. He asked what was wrong; I didn’t want to tell him over the phone. He kept asking and asking, so I told him. He said to calm down that it was probably nothing and he was on his way home. When he got home I showed him everything I found and couldn’t stop crying. We made an appointment with the doctors at U of C and hoped for the best. After the hour long ride to the hospital our first meeting was with the genetic counselor who explained that our son had a condition known as Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). This is a very devastating disease and the prognosis is barely 50/50. We were asked if we wanted to have a CVS test to confirm and we agreed. We went home with our diagnosis and I went back on the computer to try to find hope. About a week later the genetic counselor called stating that the previous diagnosis was not correct. My son was definitely a son and he had unbalanced translocated chromosomes that caused the cystic kidneys. The prognosis for this was even worse. Now he could end up with so many more defects and none of them were predictable as this was a very unique anomaly. We now had nothing. We were asked over and over and over again if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. This was not an option for us. We figured if there was even a 1% chance and he was fighting we would fight along with him. My husband and I were tested and found that our genes and chromosomes were fine and that this happened even though we had less than a 1% chance that it would.
The holidays came and went as did tons of doctors’ appointments. On February 15th we went to our normal appointment and our little man didn’t want to move. They told me they were sending us to labor and delivery to induce. I was totally NOT prepared yet. All our things were at home, over an hour away, even my camera. Well, we ended up getting some of our things brought to us. Evan Mychel Emard was born on February 16, 2010 at 12:34am. At 5lbs 8oz 18in he was beautiful and he cried, the doctors said he may not be able to if his lungs are not developed enough. HE CRIED!! I was so excited that I cried. They rushed him away to begin the care to keep him alive. As they wheeled me out of the operating room they stopped so I could see him. Just a quick look as I was wheeled back to my room. About an hour later my nurse stated that the NICU doctor wanted us right away. My heart tore, I knew this was it. As we entered that NICU I saw my son laying there. He was naked except for the many wires that were attached to his frail body. He was an odd color and sedated. The doctor explained that his lungs had not developed enough to sustain life even with support. His oxygen levels were supposed to be at 90-100 and the highest they could get was 38. We made the hardest decision any parent has to make; we took him off the life support and took the tubes out of his throat and nose. I held my beautiful son till he passed. He fought hard to see us and I will never forget. His memorial service was held on his due date and our anniversary. We spent everything we had to make his memory beautiful.
After that my husband was so devastated that he ended up being off work for a month with no pay. That set us back a month on almost everything. I have been looking for work with no luck. My husband’s boss also informed us that he is also no longer going to pay for any part of our medical insurance, which we NEED, and now costs us $177 a week. We have creditors calling everyday for money, but the only calls that scare me are the ones from our mortgage company and our van which is the only vehicle we have left that will transport all of us safely. I want to file bankruptcy, but we have to be caught up with the house and van in order not to lose them then we need to have an extra $1100 for filing and lawyer fees. My husband’s knee also has another fracture which needs another surgery that we can’t afford right now. We really need to get all of this done as I would love nothing more than to start a business/non-profit to help families, like ours, who have lost a newborn. Right now we need all the help we can get from wherever we can get it. So even if a monetary donation can’t be made maybe some advice can help. Thank you for caring.
My Purpose
To be able to catch up on all our bills. After that I can concentrate on raising money to help other families like mine. Visit Evan's cause page on Facebook http://media.causes.com/807578?m=cca1fdd9
My Interests
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Getting To Know Me
My Family
Mother :Sherri
Brother(s): Brian, Christopher
Other important people in my life.
Name :Brigitta
Relationship: grandmother
Recent changes in my life : Too many changes to list.... Another thing that feels like Evan's death all over again is knowing that more children is not possible without medical intervention which insurance will not pay for. It is not VERY costly like IVF, but still more than we have.
Right after Evan's passing our dog, Harley, had to get surgery to remove a tumor and my cat that I have has since I was my daughter's age is on his last legs.
With school coming to an end I now have to try to figure out how to keep 3 kids entertained on a budget of zero for extras. We have cut back on a LOT of things and it breaks my heart that I can not provide them with a memorable summer.
Favorite board game Monopoly
What is most important thing in your life? My children
Pick five words that describe yourself : intelligent, funny, giving, sympathetic, strong
Can you juggle ? No
What is your favorite day? Friday
What is your favorite season? Fall
What is your favorite meal? Dinner
What time do you wake up in the morning? 6am
If you could have one super power, what would it be? healing
Comedy or Horror? Horror
If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Australia
What is your greatest ambition? Start a charity organization, succeed and then exceed.
Who is the person from you past you wish you could go back and talk to? My son Evan
What do you never leave home without? Purse
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? Pay off all my bills and then donate the rest.
What is the most embarrassing thing youve ever done? Peed my pants
Photos Of Jenni
(Photos: 11 | Views: N/A | Last upload: July 6th, 2010 )
Our Evan
Born 2/16/2010 (Our Mardi Gras Baby)
5lbs 8oz 18in
He Overcame So Much
Our only complete family picture
Evan's Memorial Service
Poor Harley after surgery
At the forest preserve
Evan's Resting Place
My Oldest, John, With His "Gotta Think Challenge" Award (He's soooo smart)
Well, the title really says it all. After spending what we had for bills, $600, on fixing vehicles to get to work, store, doctors, etc.. the vehicle breaks AGAIN. On top of it all no unemployment extension has been passed, so that didn't come in this week. I need a root canal because the infection is now eating away at my bone which costs $350 after the $115 COBRA dental is paid, which isn't and I don't know if it will be. My husband's employer is messing around with his hours and our health coverage. His check was $227 last week and the week before and that was after he took $180 for our health insurance which has been term'd since 5/1/2010 according to BCBS!!! So ANGRY right now!! I just don't feel like anything is going to get better anytime soon. I feel like I should just give up!!! Screw it ALL!!! DONE DONE DONE!! >>>
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Member Since: 06/04/10 | Login Count: 28 | Profile Views: 849 | Last Login: 10/05/10 
