In June of this year, I met a precious little boy named Samudra. He is fighting a heartbreaking condition that no little boy should ever have to endure. His parents, Dominique and Vladimir have fought endlessly to find answers and seek out the best doctors in the world to fight for Samudra. " A mother's love is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pitty, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." These two humans absolutely blew me away when I met them at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas and heard their personal story. They epitomize the fighting spirit of a parent (one that so many of us know and understand) and the feeling that you will do WHATEVER it takes to find healing for your baby. A parent's love knows no limits...this family has left the comfort of their home in Indonesia, traveled 10,000 miles, and given up their day-to-day jobs (and everything that they know) to come to the United States and seek medical care with Dr. Warren Snodgrass and Dr. Nicol Bush in Texas. Samudra has a very severe case of hypospadias, which causes complications with his urethra and urinary channel. His specific case is very rare and requires three complex and complicated staged surgeries, skin grafting, and subsequent hyperbaric oxygen treatments after each surgery. The severity of his case is so rare that doctors in Asia were unable to treat it and Dominique had to seek out different doctors all over the world. After extensive research, she was able to find the Hypospadias Specialty Center in Texas which specializes in rare and difficult cases. Samudra hugging Shiloh, the Ronald McDonald House mascot. They have come up against one roadblock after another but they still continue to FIGHT for their boy. The family does not have medical insurance and is paying for all of their surgeries completely out of pocket. As Dominique explains, “In Indonesia, you are not allowed to have any health insurance if your child has a medical condition he was born with." As a result, any surgery related to this condition is not covered by insurance. In addition to each surgery, Samudra needs 15-20 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatments; these hyperbaric "dives" are very expensive without insurance but extremely necessary to help the skin heal correctly after each surgery. In September of 2024, Samudra had his first of three expected staged surgeries. This surgery failed and the family needed to begin the difficult process of three staged surgeries all over again. They returned to the US in March of 2024 and planned to stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas for good until all of his surgeries in the United States were complete. This means that their family will be displaced from their home for an entire year. Samudra had revision surgery in March of 2024 and 15 rounds of hyperbaric oxygen. He now has two additional surgeries planned in September of 2024 and March of 2024 here in the United States. When he returns to Asia, Samudra will also need one additional laparoscopic surgery on his abdomen. Samudra hunting eggs in the Ronald McDonald House Courtyard At this point, Dominique and Vladimir are tasked with paying for both surgeries (payment has to be made upfront ) and hyperbaric oxygen COMPLETELY OUT OF POCKET. They are living at the Ronald Mcdonald House of Dallas and do not plan to return home between surgeries because of the extreme cost of flying back and forth. They are in the United States on a medical visa and although they are willing to do whatever it takes to earn money for their son's surgeries, they cannot legally work. They also do not have their own car for transportation. Dominique still works remotely at night as a STEM teacher in Indonesia. In an effort to fundraise for her son's surgeries, she has also put together the most amazing STEM/summer activity kits for kids. I will link those as well as a story about this family published by the Ronald McDonald House below. This family is in such a difficult position and their ONLY goal is to care for their son and heal his condition. I know this is a situation that so many parents can identify with. Let's rally around Dominique and Vladimir and help support this wonderful family so that they can afford to pay for their son's remaining two surgeries and return back home. Samudra at Ronald McDonald House Everything donated will go straight toward paying for Samudra's surgeries and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in September and March. Even just a few dollars can make a difference for this family. Thank you so much for taking the time to read their story. Important Links: Samudra's Story Featured on the RMHD Newsletter Hypospadias Specialty Center Picasso STEM Kit Overview Gardening STEM Kit Overview Dominique's Fundraising STEM Kit Order Form
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