Family facing long road to recovery for yet-to-be-born son

May 30, 2023

Nikki Derhaag's second pregnancy was progressing as expected and she and her husband, Gerrick, delighted in telling their daughter, Hayley Jo, of the impending arrival of her baby brother, Aksel, due July 1. Then, in March they learned that Aksel's diaphragm hadn't developed properly, that he had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and his heart and lungs were not growing in their proper places.

The couple, both of Bonners Ferry and now living in Kootenai and working at the Alta Mill in Naples, have already endured numerous visits to different medical specialist as they prepare for Aksel's arrival, readying for the many surgeries and special care their boy will need to enable his heart and lungs to develop and function properly.

It is expected that Aksel will spend most of the first year of his life in the hospital.

Nikki's sister, Cassandra, has established a GoFundMe account and will establish an account at Mountain West Bank this week.

"As a mother who also had a very stressful neonatal hospital journey, I wish I had spent my time loving my little boy instead of assuming I had the rest of his life to love him," Cassandra said. "I wasted my time worrying about money. Please help me in making sure this wonderful family doesn't make the same mistake. There is no telling how much everything will cost in the end, but anything is appreciated."