ABOVE: The Bakker family, from left: Jordan, Brooklyn, Isaac and Macy. The Bakker family will be present at a benefit event for Isaac this Sunday, Oct. 21 at Martin County West School in Sherburn. Submitted photo.

SHERBURN — The Martin County community is being asked to help Isaac Bakker recover from heart disease. In a tremendous effort to raise the necessary funds and awareness for the baby’s recovery, Martin County West (MCW) High School and the Lions Club of Sherburn will be hosting a ‘Benefit for Isaac Bakker’ pancake feast event on school grounds from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. Guests will be able to partake in pancakes as prepared by the Lion’s Club, a silent auction, t-shirt sale, and more. Free-will donations are strongly encouraged to go toward Isaac’s recovery.

Shortly after his arrival in April, Isaac Bakker was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease, a common birth defect that affects the structure of and how blood flows through the heart. Since his diagnosis, Isaac has undergone numerous surgeries, including one open-heart surgery at just nine days old. Following 103 days of custody in the Children’s Hospital, Isaac is now closely monitored at home. Regularly, the infant attends check-up appointments in the metro, with the company of his doting parents, Brooklyn and Jordan Bakker, and his sister, Macy.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Brooklyn said. “[The family] is leaning on faith, family, and friends…The ‘Three F’s’ as I like to call it,” she added with a chuckle.

Brooklyn Bakker, who has since the diagnosis taken a hiatus from teaching, served as a 2nd-grade teacher at MCW for nine years. Isaac’s need for supervision, along with frequent checkups at hospitals, prompted Brooklyn to remain at home until her son’s treatment was manageable. Brooklyn expressed that the time spent away from work has allowed her to begin emotionally healing herself.

“My mental health wouldn’t have been great at all [if I continued to work at MCW during Isaac’s diagnosis,” she said. “It’s great to have the flexibility [with staying at home] for appointments.”

Brooklyn explained that amidst this difficult circumstance, she and the rest of the Bakker family have been preserving with the unwavering support and love from family, friends, co-workers and surrounding communities that have communicated support for Isaac and his future recovery.

“We’ve been surrounded with so much love from a lot of people,” she chimed.

According to Brooklyn, one in 100 infants suffer from Congenital Heart Disease. Several patients who share this condition undergo cardiac catheterization, ablation, or other surgical medical procedures. Isaac will attend another appointment on Oct. 25 and is expected to undergo surgery to replace the stent in the heart’s artery.

During their time at the Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn met and sought notable amounts of comfort in families, and ‘heart mamas’, whose children were also administered for treatment. Brooklyn witnessed many children recover and families who had to say goodbye. Isaac has been administered for four heart surgeries already. Upon discovering a new kidney disease, the family is seeking long-term plans.

Stephanie Wohlhuter is another teacher at MCW and is closely assisting her colleague with the benefit event so that Isaac may have a successful treatment. Wohlhuter explained she has collaborated with many recovery benefits previously and was eager to help Brooklyn. Brooklyn explained she initially dismissed Stephanie’s idea, but re-contacted her not long after she took time off from work.

“Stephanie reached out, but I felt really guilty,” Brooklyn recalled. “I got home, and then I decided to reach out again.”

After the two agreed to work together, they brought the Sherburn Lion’s Club on board, who generously took care of preparing the breakfast. Brooklyn’s additional co-workers, Jenna, Maia, and Connie seized t-shirt sales and fundraising plans.

Brooklyn shared that she was amazed by how quickly people began to rally behind Isaac’s recovery. She admitted to feeling considerably emotional upon realizing the number of t-shirts bought, silent auction items donated, the number of people who planned to attend and more.

“The Martin County West [MCW] community has always been stepping up to help those in need,” Wohlhuter remarked on the student body, staff and surrounding communities.

“It’s amazing how many people are willing to help out,” Brooklyn added.

Wohlhuter highlighted the need for financial assistance from the county’s community is significantly dire, especially to assist Brooklyn with vehicle mileage and medical billings.

“There’s an immediate need to raise funds for [Isaac’s] treatment,” Wohlhuter said. “There are so many families affected by heart disease, and they come on suddenly.”

While the event doesn’t openly promote screenings, ScreeningAmerica occasionally comes to Martin County, offering free appointments to residents to identify cardiovascular issues before they become a serious, detrimental health concern.

Brooklyn stated that she would like to see awareness about Isaac and the condition itself to be raised. From her own experiences, she hopes the message of recognizing the preciousness of life will be acknowledged or reminded to the guests at the benefit event.

“Don’t take life for granted,” she said. “Life is beautiful and precious.”

After the benefit event this Sunday, Brooklyn said there are no concrete plans for another benefit. However, because February is the month that recognizes the condition, she said she’d be interested in having another event then. Contributions, big and small, bring the Bakker closer to their hope of providing their son treatment. For those unable to attend the benefit event, there are alternative strategies to lend a hand to the Bakker family, including donations and advocacy.