GoFundMe Launched For TRIVIUM’s ALEX BENT & His Wife As Their Newborn Daughter Faces Health Issues

Trivium drummer Alex Bent and his spouse Christina just lately welcomed their daughter Layla into the world. In accordance with the Bent household, Layla was born prematurely and underneath some pretty dire circumstances that, if left unchecked, would have resulted in a stillbirth. Layla and the Bent household have spent their days within the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) which has racked up some fairly severe payments.

Christina has since launched a GoFundMe asking for assist, which you can donate to right here. You may also learn the main points of Christina‘s story under, per her retelling on the GoFundMe web page. We want the Bent household all the very best presently and hope they’ll all go house quickly, glad and wholesome.

“On August 22^nd, 2024, our world was rocked when a routine being pregnant appointment changed into an emergency at 29 weeks gestation.

“For weeks, I used to be getting anxious (for no actual purpose) about getting in to see my specialist for my gestational diabetes. Although I had already been by way of this with my older daughter, I used to be very antsy and calling the entire MFMs in my hospital’s community to see if any earlier appointments could be obtainable, with no luck. At this level, I might have an introductory appointment on August 27^th, and a complicated anatomy scan on September 17^th. Whereas the 20-week anatomy scan was excellent, I used to be nonetheless very anxious to get in for an additional scan to see how our child was progressing within the 3^rd trimester. Throughout my being pregnant with my older daughter, my placenta began failing on the finish of my being pregnant, resulting in induction at week 37 on account of delicate Intrauterine Progress Restriction (IUGR). I anticipated the identical with this being pregnant, however I may have by no means imagined it could occur so quickly.

“I used to be rising pissed off that not one of the specialists inside a 100-mile radius had any obtainable appointments. I began wanting round for a brand new specialist on my insurance coverage’s web site once I stumbled throughout a non-public observe, who fortunately had an appointment inside 2 days of me calling and getting a brand new referral. I arrived at my appointment anticipating the same old prenatal questions, anatomy scan, and dietitian follow-up to maintain my gestational diabetes underneath management. When the ultrasound tech positioned the Doppler on my abdomen, the panic set in as her face turned pale and she or he ran out of the room to seize the physician. The physician advised me, ‘somebody is searching for you’ and ordered me, ‘don’t go house, don’t pack a bag, go straight to the hospital.’ It was then that we found my child was measuring ~3 weeks behind in measurement, I had little to no amniotic fluid, and I had reverse finish diastolic stream of the umbilical twine. That is the final step earlier than a stillbirth would have occurred as she was now not receiving any diet from my failing placenta. This was August 22^nd, and I used to be not on account of have an ultrasound till September 17^th. Had I not discovered the personal MFM once I did, my daughter wouldn’t have made it.

“I used to be admitted to the high-risk L&D, began on a magnesium drip and steroids for lung improvement. I ought to have acquired 2 rounds of every, however our child’s coronary heart fee was beginning to expertise sudden decelerations that have been getting extra constant. So 7 hours into my hospital keep, me, the MFM, and my husband referred to as it. We have been going to do a c-section whereas she was nonetheless wholesome, moderately than ready 24 hours for the subsequent rounds of magnesium and steroids and presumably operating into an emergent state of affairs.

“The c-section and my restoration have been fortunately uneventful. My placenta was the scale of a hamburger, exhibiting us how badly it had failed and was clearly the rationale why child stopped rising and her amniotic fluid was disappearing.

“Child did initially expertise respiratory misery syndrome at start, however she was stabilized fairly shortly and weaned all the way down to the C-PAP inside a few hours. She was initially on sepsis watch on account of having some episodes, however was cleared and was going to start feeds by way of her NG tube the subsequent day. All gave the impression to be going effectively till that evening of August 24^th, when her nurse observed her stomach was very distended. We had simply been discharged and made it house once we have been referred to as to return again for an emergency process. Her abdomen stored filling with air (we consider this was from the C-PAP, as C-PAP stomach in preemies is frequent) but it surely was now flowing out between her abdomen and her stomach wall. A Penrose drain was positioned to assist launch the air from her stomach. She was instantly positioned on antibiotics and fentanyl for consolation, and we might must have an exploratory laparotomy to seek out the difficulty.

“She was given a day to relaxation, after which on August 26^th, she had the exploratory laparotomy. Happily, she remained secure throughout and after surgical procedure. The surgeon was capable of finding a .5cm gap in her abdomen, a gastric perforation on the lesser curve, which was a particularly powerful spot to function on and under no circumstances within the regular space the place perforations usually happen. Her abdomen primarily popped like a balloon. The surgeon expressed her issues post-surgery, and we might spend the subsequent 2 weeks battling the continued air in her stomach and her OG tubes from popping the stitches open. She was not allowed to eat till she was absolutely healed. She was on the ventilator for the surgical procedure, and we stored her on the vent in case her stitches opened and she or he’d want one other surgical procedure (we did not wish to extubate simply to reintubate). 2 weeks previous surgical procedure, we did an higher GI distinction research to substantiate that her perforation healed completely. The air in her stomach was nonetheless an issue, however the nurses took nice care to manually aspirate any further air, measure her stomach consistently, and vent it always.

“As soon as she was cleared, she was lastly capable of eat. She had her first meal at 19 days previous by way of her feeding tube. She was taken off the ventilator, and we might skip the C-PAP and go straight to excessive stream oxygen to keep away from further stomach air. As soon as she began consuming often, she lastly started to cross meconium, and the air in her stomach resolved. It was at all times my perception from the start that the meconium was blocking her stomach from releasing air, and it appeared like which will have undoubtedly been the case.

“We are actually virtually 10 weeks into our NICU keep and we now have made some huge enhancements. Together with the surgical procedure, we now have battled jaundice (from being on TPNs for thus lengthy/not consuming), anemia, hypoglycemia, and now we’re within the trenches along with her studying to eat by bottle. This half has been extraordinarily difficult. As we’re getting nearer to discharge, the fact is setting in and hospital payments are starting to flood the mailbox. We’re going to proceed to want many specialist visits and outpatient therapies on account of her prematurity.

“We have no idea what the long run appears like from a monetary standpoint being that our child has already been hospitalized for nearing 70 days. We’re so grateful for our pals, Alex’s band members, and our household who shortly jumped into motion to assist us bodily and financially. The lodge rooms, home-cooked meals, UberEats reward playing cards, taking our older daughter on a whim once I was being admitted. They have been a lifesaver once we have been going by way of probably the most tough first few days.

“Any assist in any respect is significantly appreciated. All funds will go in direction of medical payments, any outpatient therapies, follow-up appointments, and serving to to cowl our dwelling bills whereas I am working little to no hours at my job to be at her facet.

“I do know this was an extended backstory, however when you’ve made it this far, thanks for listening. Even a share may very well be a recreation changer for us. I can’t categorical how laborious it was to put in writing this and relive the toughest moments of my life whereas additionally nonetheless going by way of it. Asking for assist shouldn’t be in our nature, however we’ll do something for our candy child lady.

“With love, the Bent Household.”