Locals rally for unborn child in health crisis

Local residents are being urged to contribute towards major medical costs and related expenses for an unborn child of a Central Oregon couple with strong ties to Sisters.

Christian David Ruwaldt, the unborn son of Bryan and Nicole Ruwaldt of Bend, was recently diagnosed in utero with a congenital heart defect called Endocardial Fibroelastosis (EFE). His mother, Nicole, is a 2005 graduate of Sisters High School and the daughter of David and Denise Wheeler of Sisters.

"The recommended procedure was to have heart surgery in San Francisco before the baby's birth in late October," said Ryan Karjala.

Karjala, division chief with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, has organized the donation campaign working with Julie Spor, administrative assistant with the fire district. David Wheeler is fire marshal with the fire district, and Denise is a volunteer EMT.

"The Ruwaldts recently learned that their insurance company would not cover any of the medical costs because they viewed the surgery as experimental and it was to be done out-of-state," Karjala added.

Karjala and Spor have placed 15 donation boxes at business locations throughout Sisters.

"The boxes shaped as small houses were loaned by the Kiwanis Club of Sisters," Karjala said.

Boxes are located at Sisters Chevron, Ray's Food Place, Les Schwab Taylor Tire Center, Three Sisters Salon, Espresso Junction, Sisters Barber Shop, Coyote Creek Café & Lounge, Subway in Sisters, Sisters Inn, Sisters Bakery, Bright Spot Juice and Java, Sno Cap Drive In, Hitchin' Post General Store and Sisters Pumphouse.

"We also have opened an account at the Bank of the Cascades for the Christian David Ruwaldt Donation Fund," Karjala added.

Plans now are to either induce labor or to use a C-section for the baby's birth in late October in Portland. This will be followed by three separate surgeries over the next several months.

"Before the parents were notified about no insurance support prior to the baby's birth, we were intending to use donations to help them with costs of airfare and living accommodations in San Francisco. Now with the surgery scheduled in Portland after the birth, there still are travel and living costs for the parents both before and after the birth that will extend for several months," Karjala said.

The baby's father has cut back on his working time as a part-time charter airplane pilot because of medical appointments, reducing the family's income, Karjala added.

Karjala explained that the donation campaign is not a fire district or volunteer association project but an effort by fellow employees and friends of the Wheelers and Ruwaldts to provide help in a time of need.

For more information and progress reports, visit http://www.babywithefe.blogspot.com.