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You have the power to give hope to families and help children with special healthcare needs reach their full potential.

What does it mean for a child to have special healthcare needs? It could mean living with chronic pain, chronic illness or a genetic disorder. It could mean living with complex physical disabilities caused by brain or spinal cord injuries. It could mean living with autism spectrum disorder or working through developmental delays. It could mean managing mental health concerns.

Whatever it means to our patients, Children's Specialized Hospital offers personalized life-changing care that gives hope to families and gives children the opportunity to live life to their full potential.

But they can't do it without your help.

 

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YOUR GIFT TODAY HELPS KIDS LIKE AYDIN WHO SPENT THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS LIFE IN THE HOSPITAL.

The day Aydin was born he was put on an Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine (ECMO) this was a result of life-saving measures taken after his tiny heart went into cardiac arrest. On that same day, he received a tracheostomy, had pneumothorax also known as air in the lungs, and a lacerated liver.

Aydin was diagnosed with C.H.A.O.S (Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome), laryngeal stenosis, VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect), and an inverted anus. CHAOS affects the airway preventing one from breathing on their own. Aydin’s vocal cords are also 99% fused together, in his case, allows him to eat by mouth.

The months that followed Aydin’s birth were filled with uncertainty and stress for his parents, Yadilsa and Jamal Martin. Aydin had multiple surgeries and procedures early on in his life. At three-and-a-half months, he had open heart surgery to correct a VSD and a double chamber right ventricle. He was in the NICU for five and a half months and they knew that Aydin would ultimately be coming home on a ventilator.

Aydin was transferred to Children's Specialized Hospital where he stayed almost until his first birthday. This is where his parents, Yadilsa and Jamal, experienced parenthood for the first time. Picking up and essentially moving into CSH—only sleeping in their bed at home two days out of the week—the rest of the nights they were by Aydin’s bedside at CSH. 

During his six months at the CSH New Brunswick inpatient hospital, Aydin received physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapies. He had a strict schedule during his stay and as a result, reached many milestones. He was able to spend some play time out of his crib and on the floor and his parents were able to give him his first bath with water. Aydin’s parents recall having to learn to trust themselves to manipulate the vent circuit when picking him up. They began to see their baby improve for the first time since his birth. One of the biggest obstacles that Aydin overcame while at CSH was his huge aversion to things in his mouth. The family gives credit to his speech therapist Jojo for doing her very best to stimulate him orally. By the end of Aydin’s time at CSH, he was able to have tastes of breastmilk.

“Aydin probably wouldn't be alive if it hadn't been for all the preparation we received at CSH. Every single training we received, we employed within the first two weeks of Aydin being home,” said Yadilsa. “Although we were approved for 24-hour nursing, it was a struggle to receive consistent care. We trained every single nurse, most had never worked with pediatric patients, and others didn't know how to work with his "attachments" (closed suction, enteral feeding, properly reading his medications, the vent, etc.). Within the first month of being home, we had to bag him, perform CPR, do an emergency trach change, change the circuit, and make him portable because the EMS didn't know how to. By the time August rolled around, we knew we could handle whatever was needed not only to keep Aydin alive but to help him thrive and grow!”

Aydin was able to finally be discharged from CSH and go home for the very first time just two weeks shy of his first birthday. Since leaving CSH Aydin’s physical strength has greatly improved. He can sit up without support, turn himself when he's lying in bed and he can grab certain toys and play independently. The biggest thing has been him standing up by himself in his crib.

Aydin loves books and being read to. He entertains himself with the simplest of things. A plastic water bottle (he likes to squeeze it and try to open it to drink water out of), a napkin, and a string. The world truly is Aydin's playground. He also enjoys cuddling, music, and now even dances and stomps his little feet.

Today at one- and a half-year-old Aydin is thriving and receiving therapies through an Early Intervention program in New York where he lives. The Martins' greatest hope for their son is that he will lead an independent life and reach his fullest potential. “We want him to grow and thrive and be an exceptional human,” said the parents.

“Overall, if we could donate a bunch of money right now to the CSH Foundation, we would. CSH changed our lives. We met incredible people. The love, care, and compassion we were shown is unmatched.”

 

 

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