Some of you may know (in person, by name or by reputation) Melanie and Jesse Safir, long-standing Radiohead fans extraordinaire, frequent rail-dwellers at concerts around the US and Europe, and all around lovely people.
They recently welcomed the latest additions to their family, a second set of twins, after what could only be described as an eventful pregnancy...if only for its complete UN-eventfulness. That all changed in an instant, starting with terrifyingly precipitous births in the back of the family van that left one twin nearly dead and everyone else injured and/or traumatized.
It was only after the immediate crisis abated somewhat that it was discovered that one twin, baby Ruby, was born with Down Syndrome, and would need to be hospitalized in neonatal intensive care for a minimum of weeks, if not months, because a profound lack of muscle tone (common in Down Syndrome newborns) makes it impossible for her to breathe or eat on her own. Meanwhile, the second twin, baby Jesse Jr., has already endured several bouts of jaundice requiring repeat hospitalizations, and on top of everything else, has tested positive for one of the genetic markers of cystic fibrosis, with more detailed testing now ongoing.
Needless to say, and what with the US healthcare system being what it is, they are already financially destitute, and this is before having to deal with raising one special-needs child, and possibly, another with an incurable illness.
A fundraising website has been established to help with their catastrophic medical costs: http://tinyurl.com/q84e7tx
Any help in any way, large or small, would be greatly, and eternally, appreciated.
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