Benefit helps baby with broken heart

Laura and Michael Matt, parents-in-waiting for baby Monte, had their own hearts broken when they learned their son has a potentially fatal heart defect.

“They were really shocked,” said Nancy Pemberton, Laura’s mother.

Due to arrive April 21, Monte has a medical team in Seattle ready to fix his tiny heart in the first of five surgeries. With these procedures, Monte has a 75 percent chance of surviving.

Pemberton, Laura and Michael leave for Washington on March 28 with no idea how long Laura and Monte will need to stay or how many times they must return.

To help them cover nonmedical costs, Susan Taylor of Bigfork has organized a corned beef and cabbage dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Swan River Hall in Bigfork across from the Echo Lake Cafe.

Pemberton and Monte’s grandfather Chris live in Bigfork where Laura, 19, graduated from high school in 2010. Monte’s paternal grandparents Doug and Debra Gilham live in Columbia Falls, where Michael, 26, graduated from high school and where he and Laura now live near the Badrock Fire Hall.

Although the couple have medical insurance, they don’t have the money to pay for travel and a potentially long hotel stay, estimated at $3,000 just through the birth. Pemberton said Michael must return to work right after Laura’s appointment then rush back for the birth.

“He works up at Pizza Hut in Columbia Falls. He’s a delivery driver,” Pemberton said. “The last place Laura worked was Safeway in Whitefish.”

Monte is their first child. According to Laura, she and Michael just learned about his heart defect in January.

She was having an ultrasound at 23 weeks when Dr. Debbie Klein spotted something wrong with the heart. Klein sent her to Kalispell for clearer imaging, then to Missoula pediatric cardiologist Dr. Bruce Hardy, who works closely with Seattle Children’s Hospital.

He confirmed the problem with Monte’s heart as a single ventricle defect, a term that encompasses a spectrum of congenital disorders. She wasn’t certain of the exact terminology he used.

“It’s not a very common heart defect,” Laura said. “He said he sees it maybe two times a year.”

 She will deliver the baby at the University of Washington Medical Center. Within the first week, Monte will have surgery at Seattle Children’s Center.

Pemberton said she has six weeks off from her job at Bigfork Drug Store to stay with Laura through the birth. She said the support from the community has helped immensely since they learned about the heart defect.

“It was upsetting, but we’re coping with it,” she said. “We have so many people praying and supporting us. It’s wonderful.”

Pemberton was very gratified when Taylor jumped in to help her daughter and son-in law with their financial struggle.   

“She told me about her little grandson-to-be and they were devastated,” Taylor said. “They are a young couple and don’t have any money. I thought maybe I can do this — help a little bit.”

A cancer survivor, Taylor said she has taken part in Relay for Life and enjoys helping people, especially those who are sick or have sick children. To that end, she and a friend, Brandi Simpson, created Bigfork Hope Warriors as a Facebook page.

“It’s really unofficial,” she said. “But we get a lot of response.”

She called this benefit at Swan River Hall the first “big thing” that she has done.  

A former chef, Taylor came up with the St. Patrick’s Day theme with the corned beef and cabbage dinner and recruited popular chef Neil Navratil of Great Northern Foods to help her cook the corned beef. Other people are helping with roasted potatoes while Harvest Foods bakers are making Irish soda bread.

She credited Bigfork Harvest Foods with helping out with discounts on food as well. Taylor encourages guests to bring a potluck dish to enhance the basic meal or two dozen cupcakes for a featured contest.

Taylor has three cupcake judges and plans to have a people’s choice award as well. Afterward, guests may bid on cupcakes.

She decided not to charge for the meal.

“I’m just doing the meal and it’s donation,” she said. “If you want to donate for your food, fine. Whatever you donate goes to baby Monte. We’re also having a silent auction. Many of the businesses in town have been very generous.”

Some of the auction items include a one-night stay at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake with breakfast and dinner included.  

“We also have another stay at Mountain Lakes Lodge, along with their Sunday brunch,” Taylor said. “The Woods Bay Grille donated gift certificates and they’re entering the cupcake contest and bringing pies. Wow.”

Friends of Bigfork Schools gave tickets for a family to the annual Cowabunga spring talent show. Bigfork Drug contributed a gift basket worth $100.

Steve Kamerick, a blues musician, has agreed to provide the entertainment.

“He’s quite a famous performer around here,” Taylor said. “It’s just really nice music. Steve does a great show.”

She said all the food will be ready along with the silent auction when the benefit doors open at 5 p.m. Taylor said people may write messages of encouragement to the family on “a prayers and best wishes wall for baby Monte.”

Taylor remains in awe of the response she has gotten so far for helping a tiny baby waiting to start life with a broken heart.

“The Flathead Valley is blessed with giving people,” she said. “You just put out the word and stuff just happens. It’s amazing. I love it.”

People who would like to donate outside the benefit may make out a check to the Pemberton Baby Fund set up at Glacier Bank on Montana 35 in Bigfork.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.