Little Greyson Melnechuk celebrated his first birthday on Oct. 21.
Normally, that’s a milestone for any child, but it’s especially significant in Greyson’s case because he came into this world premature and fighting for his life.
Every day is another victory as he continues to battle health issues and receive constant care.
‘What I’ve learned through this whole thing is to count my blessings and not take anything for granted,? said mother Andrea (Stull) Melnechuk, a 1997 Oxford High School graduate, who now lives in Rochester with Ryan, her husband of eight years.
Residents of the Oxford area are being asked to help support Greyson’s fight to live and grow up like any other boy by attending a spaghetti dinner fund-raiser at Christ the King Church (1550 W. Drahner Rd.) on Friday, Nov. 14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Kids age 2 and under eat for free.
There will be a 50/50 raffle and drawings.
For tickets, please call (248) 318-9507.
‘All the people at Christ the King Church have been so supportive and helpful through this whole journey from the very beginning,? said Andrea, whose grandmother, Zelma Fellows, is a member.
Proceeds will be used to purchase a generator to keep Greyson’s ventilator going during power outages.
The money will also be used to hire a snow removal service to ensure the Melnechuks? driveway is clear for medical supply deliveries, visiting therapists and emergency situations.
‘Those are the two main things that we need as winter approaches,? Andrea said.
Funds are also needed to help pay for Andrea’s health insurance coverage.
As a teacher for Warren Consolidated Schools, Andrea still has access to her health insurance, but because she’s taken a leave of absence to care for Greyson, she must now pay 100 percent of the premiums, plus the deductibles.
Greyson was born premature at 28 weeks at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac. He weighed 1 pound 13.7 ounces and was 12 inches long.
He was born with severe respiratory failure and developed a brain bleed shortly after.
Two weeks later, Greyson had to be transferred to Children’s Hospital in Detroit for surgery. Doctors had to close an open valve in his tiny heart.
His struggle for life continued as he had to be placed on a ventilator, suffered multiple bouts with pneumonia and bronchial spasms, underwent another heart procedure, almost lost a leg to a severe blood clot and had a tracheotomy.
He survived it all and after 197 days in the hospital, Greyson finally came home in early May.
‘He really has the will to get better,? Andrea said. ‘We’re so thankful for that.?
Unfortunately, the level of carbon dioxide in his body became much too high and he had to be placed back on a ventilator.
Greyson was also experiencing bronchial spasms that required the performance of life-saving measures multiple times while at home.
In August, he went back to the hospital for another month. He came home in late September and has been there ever since.
Greyson is still on a ventilator and requires constant care, which Andrea provides during the day, while a nurse covers the nights.
‘He has to have somebody by his side 24 hours a day,? Andrea said. ‘If you turn your head for one second, a cord can come unplugged or he can actually take out his trach (tube) or pull his vent tubing off.?
Andrea said her son will need to remain on the ventilator for the next few years.
‘When he takes a breath, his airway closes. The ventilator keeps the airway open,? she explained. ‘He also needs it to open up his lungs (in order for him to exhale) carbon dioxide.?
As Greyson grows, his lungs will develop new healthy tissue and the cartilage in his airway will become stronger, according to Andrea.
This should enable him to eventually breathe on his own.
‘Their hope is by the time he’s school age, he won’t need the ventilator or his trach (tube) anymore,? she said. ‘It all depends on him.?
‘The goal is that he will grow up to be a normal, healthy boy,? she noted. ‘That’s definitely what we’re hoping for. We’re praying and hoping every day that everything will be okay.?
Andrea admitted this whole situation has been ‘a lot more overwhelming than what we had ever anticipated.?
‘But truthfully, we’re just so glad that he’s still here and he’s still fighting,? she said. ‘We’re just so thankful to have him.?
Andrea wished to express her gratitude to the staff at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.
‘They have been such a huge support to us,? she said. ‘We’re so grateful to the doctors and nurses there because they’ve been outstanding, following him through this whole thing.?