MARYSVILLE Friends and co-workers of a local family are holding a book sale to help pay for surgery for a newborn with a hole in his heart.
When Joseph Crawford was born May 9 his mother Heather already knew something was amiss. A worker at the Marysville Haggen store deli, Crawford got the news from doctors that the baby she was carrying was going to have some big problems.
I found out that something was wrong with his heart in January, Crawford recalled. Ultrasound revealed the heart defect and heart disease runs in the families of both father and mother. It could be genetic. They followed his growth through my pregnancy with ultrasound and EKG.
She and husband Tyler braced for the worst while keeping their fingers crossed. In addition to baby Joseph, they have two other children ages eight and two-and-a-half.
But the newest addition was diagnosed with a hypoplastic left ventricle and faced an immediate operation shortly after birth. Surgeons performed a Norton procedure to put most of the workload on the hearts right side.
They treat him as if there is no left ventricle, Crawford explained.
It has been a tough month for the family, as the baby has spent his entire life in the hospital surgery ward. It was nearly a week before the mother was able to hold her newborn, and not for long.
I got to hold him the day after Mothers Day, Crawford said. I got to hold him for about an hour, which was nice. But we havent held him since his surgery.
He has spent the last four weeks in Childrens Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, and Crawford checks in by phone every day. She said the nursing staff at the hospital has been fantastic and has helped the family stay in touch even when they cant touch.
Were taking it day by day, she said. Its kind of hard because we only have one car, so we dont get to see him every day.
And thats where her co-workers have stepped in, organizing a book drive and sale in the store lobby where customers can donate books and also purchase them, with all proceeds going to help baby Joseph. Allison Edwards works at the Cascade Bank branch in the store lobby and she said customers and friends of the family have been dropping off books by the bagful, They are on display in the Market Street Cafe, covering a big table and overflowing into boxes on the floor. Pay what you want is the rule, according to Edwards and Cascade Bank is also happy to take donations in the account established for the Crawfords.
Its been a great drive, Edwards said.
The need will likely continue, as Joseph will probably have a long association with doctors and hospitals for years to come according to mom.
Hes going to have a couple more surgeries before he starts school, Heather Crawford said. He will have an operation at three or four months and another at age three or four.
The book drive and sale will continue until June 9 and direct donations can be made to the Joseph Crawford savings account No. 5454011497 at the Cascade Bank Marysville branch, 3711 88th St. NE, Marysville 98270; phone 360-651-9200. The Marysville Haggen store can be reached at 360-530-7400.
Crawford said she was flabbergasted by outpouring of support from her colleagues
I couldnt ask for a better group of people to know. It warms my heart.