Benefit to be held for premature baby

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RIVER FALLS - The loving package came very early as a tiny delivery. Since then and for the foreseeable future, there’s much care and expense needed to make sure baby Nellie Koester grows to be a healthy child.

A benefit fundraiser for her and her parents, Mike Koester and Sabrina Rivera, will take place from 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Riverview Hotel & Suites ballroom, 100 Spring St., in downtown River Falls.

Laura Koester of River Falls, Mike’s mother, says: “Nellie is my third grandchild. How blessed am I?...Michael and Sabrina are making a wonderful transition as first-time parents, and of a very premature baby.

“They are so grateful for the outpouring of support from so many local individuals and businesses so far.”

Laura has lived in a River Falls townhouse since 2008 with daughter Michelle, a 2009 RFHS graduate who is a psychology major at UW-River Falls and works on Main Street at Yo-Joe’s, and Mike, the new father.

Mike’s had his own difficulties to overcome, having finished treatment for alcohol addiction. That includes a stay at Exodus halfway house in Hudson.

Laura says Mike has straightened out his life and has “been clean and sober for seven months.”

Both mother and son attend and volunteer at Servant of the Shepherd Church in River Falls.

Mike also volunteers for Second Chances helping Don McLean with his furniture ministry. He also serves a weekly meal at Faith United Methodist Church in Hudson.

In December Laura graduated from the River Falls CVTC campus with an associate degree in science nursing. She works in the home-health care field but is looking for a hospital nursing job.

At the time Nellie was born, Mike was to move to Hutchinson, Minn., where Sabrina lives.

Laura says the couple wanted to find a home there together and for Mike to find work as they prepared for the arrival of their newborn in March.

“But Nellie had other plans,” Laura said.

After Nellie’s surprise Dec. 24 birth, she was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in St. Cloud, Minn.

“Nellie is up to 5 pounds, 10 ounces, but is struggling with her feeding ability, which is not unusual for a preemie of her size and prematurity,” Laura said. “She also continues to have quite a number of apnea (breathing cessation) spells, and is being given oral caffeine to assist with both of those areas.

“To go home, a baby has to meet and maintain goals set by her care team. These include intake of eight (tiny) formula and breast-milk bottles daily, ability to feed and gain weight, and to be able to pass a car-seat test without periods of apnea.

“She also needs to be able to maintain body temperature of her own, which she is doing well.”

At first Nellie was being fed by a nasogastric feeding tube. Now she can also use her mouth for feedings.

Her parents, Mike and Sabrina, began staying at the Gorecki Guest House, a nonprofit facility across the street from the St. Cloud Hospital. Gorecki welcomes family members of patients receiving medical care.

The adjacent housing allows the couple to assist with Nellie’s care and nurturing. In the beginning she could only be held every three hours during feeding and to be changed.

Laura said that when Mike’s friends heard about Nellie’s premature birth, they organized the benefit to defray future medical costs and to boost the couple’s household finances, since neither is working.

Sabrina worked before as a front-desk hotel clerk. Mike did some work for an area general contractor before his alcohol treatment started.

Sunday afternoon’s fundraiser at the Riverview Hotel ballroom begins with live entertainment provided by five bands, a silent auction and donated door prizes.

There will also be two trips raffled off -- one to Hawaii and one to Las Vegas.

Cost to get in is $8 per person at the door. Tickets can also be bought in advance. Email Laura at koesterprn91212@gmail.com. She will make sure tickets are distributed.

Donations can also be mailed to Laura Koester’s home address in River Falls at 172 Broadway St. Make out checks to “Nellie Koester Fund Trust.”

Laura says Mike, her son, has grown up fast these past few months since leaving the halfway house and facing up to his paternal responsibilities.

She adds that he has “some very good friends in his network” who’ve devoted time and energy for the Sunday benefit.

“The five bands will be so amazing,” Laura said. “And the raffles and auction are really coming together nicely. Now we just need attendance.”

As for wee granddaughter Nellie, Laura says: “She’s the cutest little thing ever. And after all she’s been through at the hospital, I think she’ll be one tough little cookie.”

If she continues to progress, Nellie could be released by March 4 -- her original due date.

Tags: river falls, communities, news, health