We would like to show our appreciation for the outstanding care Gavin Myles O'Donnell received from Hospice of the Chesapeake Kids by making a donation in his honor.
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As many of you may not know, our little man Gavin Myles O’Donnell was born with a very rare chromosomal, genetic disorder known as Trisomy 13 along with a heart defect. It is a condition similar in nature to Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) but carries with it effects far more life-threatening and debilitating than Down's. The average lifespan for an infant born with Trisomy 13 is 2.5 days, and 80% mortality rate for the first year of life. It was extremely overwhelming with emotions when he was born on February 12 at 37 weeks, we weren’t sure if he would make it. With the Grace of God he was born breathing. He was taken to the NICU after he was born and given medicine to keep his pulmonary duct open and oxygen to help him breath. Slowly, they took him off the oxygen because he was breathing so well on his own. It was time to decide if we should have surgery for his heart defect or bring him home. After talking to the doctors and praying, and being in the NICU for a week, we decided that Gavin deserved a chance to live a life at home with his family (no matter how short it may be). The doctors didn't expect him to make it as long as he had, 5 weeks, he went with God on March 21st.
We could never put into words the tireless and impassioned effort every nurse, doctor, and staff at the Walter Reed NICU and Hospice of the Chesapeake Kids. They put all their efforts into ensuring that Gavin's life was prolonged and that his comfort was assured. We faced a lot of extremely difficult decisions regarding to what treatments we were willing to subject Gavin too. The entire staff was invaluable in making these decisions. If we have ever been personally shown how a tragedy can quickly turn strangers into family, it was during this five weeks, and it was at the doing of the staff at Walter Reed NICU and Hospice of the Chesapeake Kids.
It is our greatest hope that you make a donation to the NICU and Hospice in Gavin’s memory, so that the Unit and Hospice can continue to provide to families the immeasurable service and care it provided us. Also, that the blessing of his life can far outlive the sadness of his loss.
We thank everyone for your thoughts, your prayers, and your generosity in the last five weeks. We believe that is was through the power of prayer and the support of family and friends that made Gavin defy the odds and grace us with his presence for 5 weeks.
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