Wrangell supports its newest resident

Sabina Schlotzhauer, at one month old, is one of Wrangell's newest residents. Born to Kassee and Curtis Schlotzhauer, Sabina is facing some medical issues. Kassee said in a Facebook message that Sabina suffers from HIE, or Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy. According to the HIE Help Center, it is a form of brain damage that can occur in newborns when there is a shortage of oxygen in the bloodstream and a shortage of blood flow to the brain. There are a wide range of causes for HIE, according to the website, and some of its symptoms include breathing problems, feeding problems, and altered levels of consciousness. According to their website, HIE occurs in between 2 to 9 of 1,000 live births.

"HIE is a type of birth injury; this is a broad term used to refer to any harm that a baby experiences at or near the time of birth," their website reads. "Other terms used for HIE include birth asphyxia, perinatal asphyxia, and neonatal encephalopathy."

Fortunately for the Schlotzhauer family, they are not struggling alone. Wrangell has turned out to support them financially. J&W's Fast Foods held a special promotion on Monday, Sept. 23, to raise funds for the Schlotzhauers. According to a Facebook post on their page, all proceeds from sales on Monday, tips included, will be given to the family to help cover the costs of travel, missed work, and basic living expenses. They raised just under $1,000, according to their Facebook page.

As of Tuesday morning, Sept. 24, a GoFundMe page for the Schlotzhauer family also raised an additional $400.

"We are just so thankful and lucky that we moved to this town," Kassee said. "It has repeatedly surprised us with how kind and helpful this whole town is. I truly feel blessed to live here and call Wrangell home."

To learn more about HIE, visit http://www.hiehelpcenter.org. The GoFundMe page can be found at http://www.gofundme.com under "Schlotzhauer Family Benefit."