New Bedford Girl With Feeding and Hearing Challenges Needs a Mini Miracle

WBSM has teamed up with United Way of Greater New Bedford for another year, looking to make this holiday season special for a New Bedford family that could use a miracle.

Scarlett is a seven-month-old baby who was born with a soft cleft palate. After spending a month in the neonatal intensive care unit, a diligent nurse finally figured out why Scarlett was unable to eat or gain weight when she discovered a hole in the roof of her mouth. Traditional feeding methods were not working.

Scarlett’s mom Megan came across a specialized bottle designed to help babies with this birth defect to feed properly. However, this was just the beginning of Scarlett’s diagnosis, and having a soft cleft palate would prove to come with other obstacles such as hearing loss.

Scarlett’s weight gain journey has still had its ups and downs. It has even had an impact on her ability to undergo a procedure to prevent further hearing loss. Scarlett must not only gain weight but keep the rate of increase consistent in to receive the surgery. 

However, this specific defect makes it extremely difficult for Scarlett to eat, with each feeding lasting over an hour and the risk of aspiration or formula spilling up out of her nose is high.

"We've been slow with the weight gain and not consistent," Megan said. "A baby should gain about 25 to 30 grams per night. She is probably only gaining about five grams per night."

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Scarlett's hearing loss means that when the time comes, her speech will be impacted as well. While it is difficult to determine the extent at this age, her mom is sure that is another obstacle that they will face together.

“She’s an awesome baby!" Megan said. "Every room she goes in, everyone just loves her. She’s so happy and always smiling.”

Megan is her daughter’s sole caregiver and is unable to work due to the extensive medical care that she requires at all hours of the day and night. She prioritizes all of Scarlett’s needs, so other bills such as rent are starting to pile up. Scarlett is not eligible to go to daycare since she is a liability due to her medical issues.

This mother-daughter duo commutes to Boston at least once per week for medical appointments. Unfortunately, Megan’s car has proven to not be reliable when it matters most.

Megan has thanked her lucky stars for finding the “pigeon” bottles to help Scarlett with more efficient feeds, but at $15 each, they are a major expense. Scarlett averages eight feeds per day, so Megan is constantly washing the bottles to keep up with the demand. 

As every new parent is painfully aware, the cost of formula is tough. With Scarlett requiring a specific brand and type to ensure maximum weight gain, Megan is paying close to $50 per can of powder, which only lasts about two days.

Hear Megan talk about Scarlett and the challenges they face:

How You Can Donate to Help Scarlett:

Text to Donate: Text WISHES24 to 26989. You will be sent a United Way e-link that allows you to make a donation via credit card to this family when you select MINI MIRACLE from the drop-down menu.

By Check: Make checks payable to the United Way of Greater New Bedford and in the memo line, write MINI MIRACLE. Checks can be mailed to United Way of Greater New Bedford, 128 Union Street, Suite 403, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Donate by Credit Card: You can make a secure donation to the United Way via credit card HERE. Select MINI MIRACLE from the "Please Select a Family" drop-down menu.

WBSM's Mini Miracle with the United Way of Greater New Bedford is an extension of the Annual Holiday Wish program. Families have been pre-selected. Support for this program is made possible by First Citizens Federal Credit Union, Cask & Pig Kitchen and Alehouse, Souza Family Orthodontics, Lech Auto Body, and Fall River Municipal Credit Union.