I’m sharing this for my dad and his wife, and their sweet baby, Nikolai.
He was born on March 10th, about four weeks early. We knew going into it that he had a heart defect, but there were also complications during birth where he developed a lung infection, and needed immediate care. He responded well to the antibiotics and was able to hear Dad’s voice and open his eyes.
On March 16th, Nikolai had open heart surgery as his infection in the lungs had improved. After an almost 13 hour surgery, he had a serious setback and needed urgent intervention. The team acted quickly, bringing him back into surgery and placing him on ECMO for additional support.
Since then, he’s continued to fight through all of it. It’s been a lot in a very short amount of time, but he is one strong boy and is fighting every step of the way.
My dad and his wife have been going back and forth from Gloucester to Boston every day just to be with him, while also trying to keep things going at home (including caring for their dog, Miss Sadie). It’s a lot to carry, in every sense.
We’re incredibly grateful for the medical team taking care of him at Boston Children’s Hospital. They’ve been steady, thoughtful, and just really good to our family through all of this. Words do not come close to the level of gratitude for the skill and heart of these medical professionals.
If you know my dad, you know he’s always been someone who shows up for people without hesitation. I just wanted to make a space for anyone who’s asked how to help to be able to do that.
There’s no pressure at all. But anything will go toward helping with the day-to-day of this; travel, food, time away from work, medical bills and everything that comes with having a baby in the hospital.
If donating isn’t possible, sharing this or keeping Nikolai in your thoughts means just as much.
Thanks for reading
-Samie
Good Morning Gloucester 