Easter baby battles mystery illness

Benefit Sunday at GFW High

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

WINTHROP -- After three hours in the hospital, Nick Wersal was born at 10 a.m. Easter morning at New Ulm Medical Center. Everything seemed normal at first. He cried with gusto.

Not long after the birth, Winthrop farmer Joe Wersal called both sides of the family to tell them the great news of the birth of his son.

Several hours later, it was discovered that Nick was having trouble breathing and swallowing. Doctors thought seizures might be the problem. They had the baby flown by helicopter to Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities.

The family spent much of the next nine weeks at the hospital. Doctors ran many types of tests, scans and blood work but couldn't diagnose the baby's illness. They only knew that Nick had trouble swallowing and sucking things, which are just about all a small baby does.

After nine weeks in the Twin Cities hospital, Nick came home. He gets daily nursing care in the farmhouse.

Nick revisited Children's Hospital twice this summer, once by helicopter due to a bowel obstruction. His feeding tube was replaced a month ago.

"We had lots of scary times. There were times when all we wanted to do was get him to the hospital in time so he stayed alive," Joe Wersal said.

The Wersals took Nick to NUMC four times since he was born. Still no diagnosis. The baby's health seems to be stabilizing a bit now. Although he's still small and weak for his age, he's starting to grow faster and faster.

Nick is a healthy, active baby, touching and moving children's toys.

"I can see him making improvements every day. I can tell he's getting stronger," said his mother Sharon Wersal, a social service worker in Gaylord.

Most of Nick's care revolves around clearing out his nose and mouth with a suction machine to clear out his airway and keep him from choking. He is fed by a tube that goes directly into his stomach, which has been wrapped so he can't vomit or burp, which would choke him. His oxygen level is constantly monitored.

Nick is receiving speech and occupational therapy twice a week in Mankato. Therapists attempt to stimulate muscles used for sucking and swallowing in his neck and mouth. Range of motion activities are another part of Nick's therapy.

The Wersals are thinking about seeking chiropractic help for Nick in the near future.

Churches, civic organizations and friends in Winthrop and Morgan -- where the family hails from -- are rallying to the cause. A benefit hog roast, dollar raffle and free will offering will be held, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29 at GFW High School.

The event is being sponsored by St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church of Winthrop, the St. Michael's Catholic Aid Council #49 of Morgan and family and friends. St. Michael's Catholic Aid Council #49 and local Aid Association for Lutherans branches are providing matching funds.