Fundraiser set for expenses for 2-year-old's fourth surgery

A family is back in Seattle to have another surgery for two-year-old Brandon Chase St. Marks Jr., who started having surgeries from the day he was born, and is holding a fundraiser in Havre to help with the ongoing expenses.

Brandon, son of Brandon Chase St. Marks Sr. and Brianna Gardipee, was a premature birth and also was born with gastroschisis, a condition where the baby’s intestines protrude through a hole in the abdomem.

He underwent two surgeries immediately, one in Great Falls and one in Seattle, and another when he was less than three months old.

His mother said he is doing well but still has problems — including his digestive system not working properly and having to have shots of albumin — and doctors have determined that part of his intestine that was left in during the last surgery is dead and needs to be removed.

The family returned to Seattle last week to prepare for the surgery, and Gardipee said they might be there for some time.

Brandon might still be in Seattle during his third birthday in July.

To help with expenses, the family is holding a fundraiser Thursday at the Havre Pizza Hut. When people paying for a dine-in or carry-out purchase say they are contributing to Brandon St. Marks, 20 percent of the purchase price will go to his fundraiser.