Kensal couple’s baby facing seventh surgery
Charlee Stangeland was born with gastrointestinal complications, requiring treatment at hospitals in Fargo and Sioux Falls, S.D. At almost 5 months, the infant has yet to go home. The daughter of Casey Kamoni and Casey Stangeland of Kensal, N.D., Charlee was born with a blockage in her colon and gastrointestinal complications. Born five weeks early, she weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 18 inches long. At nearly five months, Charlee now weighs 10 pounds. In that time, she’s also undergone six surgeries. According to her Caring Bridge site, a seventh surgery is scheduled for Monday.
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Charlee Stangeland was born with gastrointestinal complications, requiring treatment at hospitals in Fargo and Sioux Falls, S.D. At almost 5 months, the infant has yet to go home.
The daughter of Casey Kamoni and Casey Stangeland of Kensal, N.D., Charlee was born with a blockage in her colon and gastrointestinal complications. Born five weeks early, she weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 18 inches long. At nearly five months, Charlee now weighs 10 pounds. In that time, she’s also undergone six surgeries. According to her Caring Bridge site, a seventh surgery is scheduled for Monday.
Charlee is receiving treatment at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, after her birth in Jamestown and three months at Sanford Health in Fargo.
“They don’t have any reason why or what caused it,” said Brenda Rask, Stangeland’s mother. Rask also has a nursing background and is the vice president of operations at Carrington Health Center.
Part of Charlee’s treatment includes feeding tubes, intravenous medications and monitors. At any given time, the child has more than five wires and tubes attached to her body, sometimes even her head.
“There hasn’t been a site where that baby hasn’t been poked or prodded,” Rask said.
Charlee works with occupational therapists and physical therapists. Her development, however, is mostly on schedule. She recognizes faces, giggles and is an overall happy baby.
“Even when she’s on the respirator, she tries to smile,” Kamoni said.
Charlee likes stroller rides in the hospital, with her IV and monitor pole in tow. She also likes to snuggle with her father, and when she does, she falls fast asleep. Charlee doesn’t like to be alone, however, Kamoni said, and squawks if her parents and nurses leave her to herself.
“She’s a very social baby,” Rask said. “She likes to be where the action is.”
And while Kamoni says Charlee is on the mend, doctors won’t say specifically when she can go home. They just say “soon,” Kamoni said.
“One day we think we’re going (home) and the next day it’s kind of like, ‘what are we doing next?’”
Doctors don’t expect long-term complications although Charlee’s first year may be difficult, Rask said. But because of Charlee’s gastrointestinal complications, the girl will always be small.
Charlee’s hospitalization has been difficult for Kamoni who has two other daughters, ages 4 and 9, still in Kensal. She and Stangeland return to their hometown about every week or so. Stangeland farms near Kensal and likely won’t be able to stay in Sioux Falls when calving season begins in March. Leaving her two older daughters at home is the hardest part, Kamoni said.
Financially, the situation is difficult as well.
The couple stayed with a relative in Fargo but in Sioux Falls, they stay at a motel. Food, travel and medical expenses add up, especially when neither parent is working.
“It’s just so hard when you’re a mom and you can’t make things better,” said Cody Stangeland, a family friend.
Cody Stangeland, along with Kari Vining and Wanda Alber, helped plan a benefit for the couple which was held in Jamestown last month. The couple, as well as event organizers, said the help and generosity from the public was “overwhelming.” In a small town, everyone is family and wants to help, Stangeland said.
“The support and willingness of everyone willing to help and give was pretty neat,” Vining said. Vining and Alber are Charlee’s great aunts.
A benefit account for Charlee has been set up at Bank Forward, PO Box 850, in Jamestown. All proceeds go to unpaid medical expenses and to help the family with loss of income, lodging and transportation.
For more information on Charlee’s progress, visit her Caring Bridge site at http://www.caringbridge. org/visit/charlee.
Sun reporter Katie Ryan-Anderson can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan-anderson@ jamestownsun.com
Tags: local news, life, news, family, stangeland, kensal, fccnetwork
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