Baby Samuel by Sabrina Lew

Raised: 97%

Goal: 100%

Created by

Sabrina Lew

Not Facebook Verified

Contact Embed

Samuel Hilmar von Campe was delivered via c-section on May 12, 2011. He is a beautiful boy!! Below is an account of what is going on, as per Samuel's parents, ... more

Updated posted by Sabrina Lew 1 month ago

So sorry we haven't updated much...

So sorry we haven't updated much here lately friends. I mostly update Samuel's facebook page, since I have an easier time with that site and we have a lot of cross-over support on the page. Plus Stefan's laptop broke, so that made is even more difficult. It's fixed now and we've been able to catch our breath, so we'll post more often ongoing. There is so much to say, but I'll get right to the important stuff....after ten months and eleven days in the hospital, with overflowing joy in my heart I can say Samuel came home on Friday March 23rd!!!!!!!! Here is a photo of him in his stroller about to get in his car seat. The trach came out March 20 and the site is healing nicely. There's a vid up on youtube and a link to it on the facebook page of Stefan taking it out. He still has the g-tube, though he mostly eats by mouth, gets breathing treatments twice a day, is on some (mostly reflux) meds and keeps us busy all night long with his pulse ox monitor constantly alarming. It alarms when his oxygen saturations go down. He came home on a liter of O2 (we have the machine set up in our house) and every time the nasal cannula comes out, which is often, the alarm goes off. We're exhausted, but happy beyond belief to have him home where he belongs and safely out of the hospital. Please remain in prayer with us that Samuel's lungs get strong and healed so he can come off the O2, that his feeding progresses, for strength and healing in his mid section and for all the overall health requests we've had. We still have a ways to go but the worst is behind us. Sending love to all. To view all recent updates and photos, go to

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-Baby-Samuel/212905922064640

Or search Pray for Baby Samuel on Facebook. You do not have to have an account to view the page. All you have to do is go there like you would any other url. Thank you thank you thank you. We'll update again soon!

Updated posted by Sabrina Lew 2 months ago

UPDATE 1 OF 2 (PORTION THAT...

UPDATE 1 OF 2 (PORTION THAT GOT CUT OFF).
Because of that, it’s very hard to pump as often as I should. Please pray that the 4-5 times a day I do pump will yield more breast milk at each pumping session. We are also concerned his g-tube might not heal properly once out due to the way his belly shifts around and the fact that the stomach is anchored to the abdominal wall to ensure proper insertion. I feel compelled to mention how amazing it is he eats by mouth at all. With Pentalogy kids (the handful that exist in the world) and others who’ve been intubated, have heart defects, g-tubes and trachs, eating is often a huge hurdle to overcome. With some it takes years to get them to accept anything in their mouths, including their own hands. That Samuel eats and drinks at all and loves stuff in his mouth is a blessing from heaven. Too many details to cover.

Updated posted by Sabrina Lew 2 months ago

Pic: with one of his favorite...

Pic: with one of his favorite nurses.
Another nice vid: http://youtu.be/SHZE0jf7_-w

1 - 3 of 238 Updates

More Updates

Created by Sabrina Lew on February 15, 2011

NORFOLK, VA Babies, Kids & Family

About This Page

Samuel Hilmar von Campe was delivered via c-section on May 12, 2011. He is a beautiful boy!! Below is an account of what is going on, as per Samuel's parents, Stefan and Hannah.

Sabrina (Stefan's sister)

We were nervous and anxious. The moment he was taken out and suctioned he cried a little bit. Because of the anticipated known conditions, there were about 15 doctors and nurses in the OR/Delivery room, some for Hannah, the majority for Samuel. He was immediately handed to the neonate group right there in the room who performed his assessments, to see how he would respond on his own, what his breathing effort was, his heart rate, his oxygenation, his motor and cry response, etc. Within a few minutes of being born his heart rate dropped to around 60. For a newborn, it should remain above 100 at least. They ended up having to put an endotracheal tube in to assist his breathing. He was stabilized and moved across the hospital to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD).

Samuel has a number of issues that in isolation can be treated well, but unfortunately the combination of them makes things difficult. As an overall, they are calling the condition Pentalogy of Cantrell. He is currently in a special ventilator called a Jet Ventilator that keeps his lungs constantly inflated/open. He will remain on that ventilator until he can be "upgraded" to the standard ventilator. Eventually, he will be able to breathe on his own. We knew about the conditions he had but did not expect the breathing difficulties associated with the liver's location. That was an unwelcomed surprise, which has changed everything including what will now be a lengthy hospital stay and even more interventions. In order of importance:

His lungs. Samuel's lungs are underdeveloped, especially his right one. It has to grow before he can breathe on his own. The doctors determined that the part of the liver that is not in the omphalocele is up by his heart, where it obviously should not be, taking up space in his right chest cavity where his lung should be. The liver has likely found its way up there through a diaphragmatic hernia. No surgery can be performed on him to move the liver and close the diaphragm until his lungs mature enough to at least get him off the Jet ventilator.
His heart. Tetrology of Fallot. He has a hole between his ventricles. This means his heart is pumping a combination of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood. His pulmonary artery (carries de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs) seems to be small as well, and his aorta is somehow also affected as far as how it is attached to the heart. It could be months or years before that surgery is performed, all depending on how he does. In spite of these issues, his heart is beating well, although currently with assistance of pressor medications.
His sternum. Since his heart was originally outside the body, he is missing part of his sternum (breast bone). We hope it can eventually be fixed, but until such time, once he starts crawling and walking around, he'll need to wear a protective vest since there is little bone protecting his chest cavity, i.e. his heart.
His omphalocele. Part of his liver and his intestines are outside of his abdomen cavity covered by a thin layer of skin. While it is the most visually noticeable problem, it is the least dangerous. Nurses covered the omphalocele with an antibiotic ointment and gauze and one which will help thicken the skin around it. It will take time for it to be pushed back inside, and eventually surgically closed-in (months). But before any such surgery can take place, either for his heart or his abdomen, Samuel has to grow and get stronger and have healthy lungs.

It is hard for them to give us a timetable right now, but it seems certain months will have to pass before we can take him home for the first time. It would also depend on whether the heart and abdomen surgeries are performed before or after we take him home, which in turn is dependent on how long it takes for his lungs to heal/grow and for the doctors to perform the surgery to move the liver from the chest cavity. Bottom line, unless emergency surgery is needed, they want to wait until he is stronger before submitting him to the surgeries.

Samuel remains on multiple medications, the levels changing as time go depending on his needs. He has a PICC line and an arterial line in place. The meds are primarily to maintain his blood pressure (Dopamine and Epinephrine). He is also on a Fentanyl drip for pain, he is being given Sodium Bicarb to combat the metabolic acidosis taking place; he is being sedated with Ativan (Lorazepam) and most recently he has actually been paralyzed to keep him from moving and creating an increase in oxygen demand (so he can't move his muscles anymore). He remains on the Jet ventilator that unlike a normal ventilator that takes actual breaths (inflates and deflates the lungs) it keeps constant pressure in the lungs...in other words the lungs remain constantly expanded as much as possible. As already mentioned, the pressing need right now is for his lungs to improve to a point where he can be moved from this Jet ventilator to a normal ventilator, and of course eventually off it. The oxygen saturation in his blood is a key indicator as to how his lungs are doing and it is constantly checked. Once the lungs improve, they can start talking about figuring out how to move the liver out of the chest cavity to allow the lungs to expand further.

This is the most recent update as of 5/15/11. We appreciate your prayers first and foremost as we present our petition to God to heal our boy. All we can do right now is be at his side as often as possible, read to him, pray for him, touch him gently, and hope daily for obvious signs of improvement.

Thanks again,

Stefan & Hannah

Have Questions? Contact the Organizer:

Contact

38 Comments

Use Facebook to Leave a Comment

Nothing gets posted to your wall. Only your Facebook name & photo are used.

Dear Lord with tears in my eyes I beg you to help these terrible days that my darling Samuelito is going through, I also beg you for his parents Stefan and Hannah, help them to keep strong even if their souls and bodies are so tired and full of pain watching their precious baby fighting against his little body needs. Have mercy on them please Lord in the name of your son Jesus. I miss you each of you so much and I kiss you with all my love. Mami/Oma

posted by Oma/Mami 6 months ago

My thoughts are with Samuel and your family. My son Aidan was born with Pentalogy of Cantrell 4 years ago. The memories of those many, many months in the hospital are as clear to me now as they were then. I can certainly empathize with what you are experiencing now. Samuel will continue to be in my prayers, and I hope that he will have a quick recovery and be able to go home with his family very soon.

posted by Sarah Doyle 6 months ago

I will be continuously praying for Samuel this morning as he undergoes surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with and your family as you wait the long wait today. God is with you and little Samuel, of that I have no doubt!

posted by Teresa Mowry 6 months ago

Lord, We still believe in Your power to heal. You have given us Your Word as encouragement. The very fact that You are risen and seated at the right hand of God inspires us to ask great things of You, knowing You have the power to do miracles even today. So we come... we boldly ask that You would touch Samuel and heal him today. Let us not be impacted by the schemes of Satan that would make us question Your great power. We know You are all powerful! We know You are full of compassion and mercy. So we do lift Samuel to You believing that if it is Your will, and we pray that it is, that You would heal him. Fill Hannah and Stefan with hope and peace and give them a song in their hearts. It is in the Great Name of Jesus, that we ask this. Amen.

posted by Joyce Kirby 8 months ago

Samuelito, eres precioso! Muchas gracias por la foto. El es guapo! :)

posted by Takeshia 8 months ago

Hannah and Stefan, I'm praying for your family and I think about you all often. Rest in the Lord about everything; sometimes it is defiantly easier said than done, but it can be, hold unto His peace that truly passes all understanding and He will restore your strengthen with His joy, soon! I love you all dearly! Remain encouraged! Blessings! Un besito a Samuelito para mi.

posted by Takeshia Stokes 9 months ago

Lord God, We praise You for the improvement in Samuel that has allowed for him to be transferred closer to home. Lord, I pray for each member of the medical staff at CHKD that will take part in even the smallest aspect of Samuel's care there. Lord, make them diligent, increase their attention to detail and fill them with hope and confidence. If there are some who are not believers at this moment, may they see your miraculous work that has already been carried out in this little guy's life. Lord, give the the desire to fight for Samuel too. And Father, help Hannah and Stefan adjust to this move. Help them to develop good relationships with the staff who is caring for Samuel. Give them Your perfect peace. Continue to bless the bond that they have with each other and with Samuel. Lord, meet all their needs..physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. Finally, Lord, I pray that you will continue to heal Samuel and enable him to breathe on his own so we won't

posted by Joyce Kirby 9 months ago

Thinking of my sweetest boy today and sending lots of prayers. I have no doubt he is going to do fantastic. Can't wait so see him again I miss my favorite NICU boy

posted by Lindsay Oldfield 10 months ago

Great and Might God, We humbly come to your throne tonight and plead for Samuel. Lord, display your awesome power and remove even the slightest doubt anyone has that You are capable of removing the need for the trach and the g-tube. Lord, we confess that You are who You say You are in Your Holy Word. We know that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with You. We believe that You can heal Samuel in an instant. You have shown Your power in so many ways in his short life... glorify Your Name again Lord. Father continue to give strength and faith to Stefan and Hannah. Bless them as only You can and meet their ever need. Lord, thank you for the gifts of the medical team that cares for Samuel. Show Your great power to them and teach them that they are instrumennts of your grace and mercy in Samuel's life. Lord, if there are those among them who do not believe, I pray that You will change their hearts and minds through what is happening in little Samuel's life. Lord, Thank You for this

posted by Joyce Kirby 10 months ago

I am just falling more and more in love with little Samuel. Your recent youtube video of him in his big boy crib made me cry tears of joy. He definitely knows your touch, senses your nearness, may He know and sense God's touch today.

posted by Katie M. 10 months ago

What a wonderful miracle your little Samuel has been! We pray for him daily and look forward to you keeping us updated so we can pray according to the needs. But we know that daily you need the Lord's gentle guidance and encouragement, and His great power of healing and strength for Samuel. Your family has become a part of our own as we pray and see God working. We know Him better through all of you and all those who have prayed and given in faith! God bless them all and thank you!

posted by Kristie Johnson 10 months ago

Father God, You are Great and Glorious and Worthy of our Praise. Thank You for all You have done and are continuing to do in Samuel's life. Thank You for encouraging Hannah and Stefan. Lord, we continue to marvel at all the things You do and how You ALWAYS remind us that nothing is to big to ask of You for nothing is too difficult for You. Father, continue to work miracles in Samuel's life and heal his little body. Help him to continue to be weaned from the ventilator and breathe strong on his own and help him to be weaned also from the pain meds without any withdrawal symptons. Lord, continue to show Yourself powerful to all who attend to Samuel and may lives be changed by Your Spirit and by the witness of Hannah and Stefan. You are our Great God and we love You, Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!!!!!

posted by Joyce Kirby 11 months ago

Praise God for all He's done in Samuel's life! And, for all He's going to do! You all are a testament to faith, and God will surely use you to touch others. Bless you all!

posted by Julie Kershner 11 months ago

God is great and God is faithful!!! Praise the Lord for the miracles he has done on baby Samuel and may he continue to work them. I have cried tears of joy by reading your latest post. I wont tire of saying that you Stefan and Hannah are amazing examples of faith in God... I am humbled by it. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your story with us. We love you and we continue to hold baby Samuel in our daily prayers. Hallelujah!!! :)

posted by Ursula Gamio 11 months ago

Praising the Lord with you for the great news on Samuel's recent improvements and continuing to pray for His healing and home coming. (I'm with the CPC of Tidewater and really appreciate having these updates.)

posted by Yvonne Mackey 11 months ago

Want all of you to know how we continue to pray for Samuel and the family. We are so happy to see the progress being made. May God continue to bless you with faith and hope as you care for your beautiful baby. Our God is faithful! Thank you for keeping us posted on Baby Samuel. And you are right Stefan, Hannah is a beautiful mom. God bless you all in Jesus Christ!

posted by Kristie Johnson 11 months ago

Primos, How amazing to see Samuelito being held by his Mamita! The video you posted on youtube has brought many tears of joy to my eyes! As a Mami, I can only imagine the anticipation Hannah felt before being able to hold Samuelito for the very first time in nearly 4 weeks since he was born and the immense joy of sharing her warmth and love with her baby. We continue to pray every single day for the complete healing of Samuel and in particular for his lungs to gain more strength. You three are an amazing testimony of faith to the world. May God bless you and keep you in his arms. With love, Prima Ursula.

posted by Ursula Gamio 11 months ago

What a beautiful picture of parental love and child contentent - in spite of the trials. God grant your family peace!

posted by Deborah Martinez 11 months ago

Thank you, Dear Lord! We are so grateful for your touch, your love, your compassion and your power! We continue to trust in you Lord for there is hope in no other. You are worthy of all our praise! God bless this precious family. Keep them in your love and hope. Touch and heal dear little Samuel and make him strong! We thank all those who are praying and giving to help! God bless all of you!

posted by Kristie Johnson 11 months ago

I can hear in your words the sorrow and pain you feel in your hearts. Please know that we are praying for you and Samuel. We don't have answers, but our Lord Jesus Christ knows your hearts and your grief and He understands it all. May He comfort you with the knowledge of His abiding love as you walk the difficult road. We are here for you and Samuel. You do not know how your story has touched others. You do not know how God may be using your courageous struggle to minister hope to some mother who might otherwise choose to end the life of her perfect unborn baby. Jesus Christ loves Baby Samuel and he loves all of you. He has entrusted this wonderful baby to Stefan, Hannah and your family. He knows this is hard for you all. He will uphold you! We pray for His miracles for Samuel!

posted by Kristie Johnson 11 months ago

1 - 20 of 38 Comments

More Comments

Recent Donations (136)

$100.00

Robin Pinkham

1 month ago

I attend Vineyard Community Church and am a part of the online prayer team. Baby Samuel has been in so many prayers ongoingly, and we continue to lift your whole family in prayer before the throne of God. He loves you all very much! We love yall, too! I'd love to offer some help for you all sometime. Please contact me if there is something I can do. God is awesome, and He is awesome through you, and He is awesome through Samuel as well!!! Many blessings and much love!!!

$50.00

Anonymous

2 months ago

$50.00

Elaine Azcarate (Cathy's mom)

4 months ago

Merry Christmas baby Samuel, Stefan and Hannah! To Samuel: This is your first Christmas, and you have come so far, you are truly a miracle baby. You are such a strong little boy. I know how proud your mommy and daddy are of how hard you've been fighting. My prayers are with you and mommy and daddy that the next year will be a happy, healthy year for all of you. Love from, Elaine Azcarate (Cathy's mom)

$50.00

Onkeo, Kaori, Kai and Grandma Chikako

4 months ago

We are thinking of you guys, Merry Christmas from California & Japan!!

$50.00

Joyce Kirby

5 months ago

In the Name of our Savior and Lord, whose birth we celebrate I give this gift to you. May God multiply it as he sees fit to meet your needs. I pray for Samuel's complete recovery and that one day very soon, you will be able to take him home and delight over the great things God has done in his life. Great is the Lord! He is worthy of praise! He has surely done great things and continues to do great things for Samuel as He hears the prayers lifted up for him. Blessed be the Name of our Lord and may He continue to bless you all and meet your needs. Love, Joyce

$50.00

Stephanie Myers

5 months ago

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

$30.00

anonymous

5 months ago

Dear Hannah, The story of your sweet boy came to me on Facebook. I want to share with you how inspired I am by you and your amazing son. I am a single mom and my baby boy is also 6 months old. He was born May 6th. Other than a broken collar bone at birth, which has healed, he was born healthy. Some days I think it is difficult to be a single mom, but reading about your precious baby Samuel and the struggles your family is facing, reminds me to focus on the blessings in my life and know that God has a plan for all of us. I don't know you but I sense in my heart that God has great plans for your little man. He is already using him is such a mighty way. Samuel has helped me to be a better mom to my little boy and to put my problems in perspective. I will keep Samuel and your family in my prayers until he is healthy. Thank you for sharing your story. God bless you!

$100.00

Nick and Avery

6 months ago

You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday. We love you

$50.00

LaToya Cain

6 months ago

I'm Praying for baby Samuel and his parents often. Psalm 3: 3-5, may the Lord continue to lift your heads and eyes to Him, He will sustain your family.

$100.00

Anonymous

6 months ago

1-10 of 136 donations

Bring your fundraising ideas to life with an online donation website from GoFundMe!

The easy way to raise money online.

Baby Samuel

Samuel Hilmar von Campe was delivered via c-section on May 12, 2011. He is a beautiful boy!! Below is an account of what is going on, as per Samuel's parents, ... more

We are thinking of you guys, Merry Christmas from California & Japan!!

You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday. We love you

I'm Praying for baby Samuel and his parents often. Psalm 3: 3-5, may the Lord continue to lift your heads and eyes to Him, He will sustain your family.