At just 1 month old, Landry Dunn of Blair is on a waitlist to receive a heart transplant after ongoing complications just a week after she was born.
Jake and Taylor Dunn, Landry's parents, noticed she was having difficulties breathing during the weekend of Aug. 20, her 1-week birthday.
"It was nothing abnormal, but on Monday morning, it had gotten really bad," Jake said, adding that he took Landry to the hospital that morning. "I was swarmed with doctors, cardiologists, nurses — it was one of the scariest things I've seen in my life."
Jake said the medical team informed the family that Landry's heart was not working right, and diagnosed her with heart failure as a result of acute myocarditis, and also said her mitral valve was not working properly.
The mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart, and opens in order to send blood through the body. A mitral valve that is working improperly sends blood back towards the heart.
"There is a slim chance they can repair her heart... but there is a 98% chance she's going to get a transplant," Jake said.
As a result of this news, Jake and Taylor traveled to St. Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri with Landry in order for her to be put on a waitlist and receive a heart transplant.
Jake returned to Blair in order to support the couple's three other children.
"They're starting at day zero down there," Jake said of Landry's treatment in St. Louis. "It's one of the toughest things we'll ever have to do."
Jake said he is uncertain how long Taylor and Landry will be in St. Louis.
To support the couple, Jake's brother, Justin Dunn, set up a GoFundMe in order to assist with the couple's medical bills on Sept. 9.
"A heart transplant can be extremely expensive to do, and with them having to travel to Missouri, not only are they having to pay for the medical procedure itself, but also having to pay for travel, food and many other things," Justin said. "I just wanted to make sure that they have the funds available to them to take a little pressure off their shoulders. I want them to focus 100% on Landry rather than financial needs."
In three days, the GoFundMe raised more than $19,000 of the $50,000 goal for the Dunns.
"The community support has just been outstanding," Justin said. "It's a great feeling to know Jake and Taylor have that support from everyone. I really didn't expect this kind of support from the community, so it's been amazing to see everyone donate.
"$50,000 is the goal for now, but the procedure will be much more than that. Anything that people can offer is going to help, regardless of how much it is."
Jake said he was pleased to see how much the Blair and Omaha communities have supported the family.
"The community is absolutely amazing," Jake said. "I can't thank everybody enough. Seeing how fast that grew is not anything we expected."
The Dunns said they hope to continue receiving well wishes and prayers for Landry as she undergoes her medical treatments.
"We're not in the home stretch," Jake said, "but with support, we'll make it through."
