Carters Courage

Hi, my name is Louise (Nana) and I am fundraising on behalf of my Grandson, Carter.

 

Carter’s Story:

 

In the early hours of Tuesday 12th April Carter was found unresponsive in his cot and Mum performed CPR until the ambulance arrived.

 

Carter was given a huge amount of medication for seizures and spent over 24hrs in Wythenshawe Hospital A&E Children’s Resus. Here Carter had multiple tests, a CT scan on his head (which showed no abnormalities) and an X-ray on his chest showing Pneumonia (which was missed earlier by a handful of GP visits).

His poorly little body could not even produce enough successful veins for more IV’s which resulted in IO attempts (drilling into his leg bone as a line for medication). This was also unsuccessful so he was left with one IV line for multiple amounts of medication.

 

Carter was eventually brought up to High Dependency in Wythenshawe Starlight Ward, later moving him to a Ward room where he had multiple tests such as bloods, a lumbar puncture (where a long needle is inserted between the bones in your lower spine to retrieve spinal fluid). He was given antibiotics and antiviral medication ahead to treat any possible serious illness such as Meningitis.

All test results were still coming back negative and each and every nurse and doctor not knowing what was happening to our beautiful boy.

 

Carter rapidly deteriorated overnight and was moved back to High Dependancy where they later had to put a tube down his throat to protect his airways and sedate him. Due to his previous failed IV and IO attempts a catheter was put in his head. He was then blue lighted and transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on Thursday 14th April.

 

Carter was put into an induced coma to protect his brain and airways and was still having seizure activity on the monitors. His little body had a heart rate over 200 for days. He endured more testing, another lumbar puncture, X-rays, multiple IV attempts, two more unsuccessful IO attempts into his leg bone, they were later successful with a Cardiac Catheter (in his groin) and he then had an MRI scan.

The MRI showed swelling on his brain and Carter was given steroids and further tested for Metabolic conditions as well his parents having to have testing done for possible Genetic conditions.

 

Throughout the course of a few weeks, he had continuous monitoring of his brain (EEG) and a second MRI scan which resulted in Carter catching Hypothermia.

 

Carters parents received his second MRI result in more depth.

This is when they were devastatingly told that this was something very serious and would be life changing.

Although Carters swelling on his brain had reduced, the scans showed extensive neurological damage. They were told that Carters story was something they had never seen before and due to the damage, it would not be the same Carter they knew ever again.

 

Carter was eventually taken out of his induced coma and became stable enough to be moved onto a Ward and is currently ongoing lots of therapy. We do not know if Carter will ever be able to see, talk, walk or eat again.

 

Carters family remain hopeful and optimistic that he continues to make small progress but in reality this will be life changing for Carter and his family. He is now a very complex little boy who needs specialist therapy, equipment and everything else that comes along with a complex baby as they grow.

 

Unfortunately the NHS and local council can not provide Carter with all the therapy and equipment he needs and deserves to help reach his potential, as they simply do not have the funding and resources.

We need all the support possible to raise funds for Carter to purchase equipment, as well as daily private specialised treatment in all areas to give Carter the best chance in life and a good quality of life.

 

We are also hopeful that one day we can raise enough funds to pay for specialist Intensive Physical Therapy Programs for Carter which is not offered in the UK. These intensive weekly programs are the equivalent to a years worth of regular therapy in which Carter truly deserves. They will also enable him to reach his full potential and help him achieve age-appropriate development.

 

As Carter is now only 16 months old the chances of Neuroplasticity is much greater given his young age. This however is only achievable through intense repetition which is why daily therapy, intensive therapy programs and equipment is needed.

 

One thing for sure is that Carter is a fighter and does not like to sit still! From day 1 he was breathing over his ventilator and the day that he smiled again was something that we were never meant to witness again.

 

Carter is so lucky to have such strong and incredible parents and family who are going above and beyond. The hospital is only in the position to provide Carter with his needs but they are not able to provide Carter with what he needs to reach his full potential. The Neurological team at RMCH are astonished at the progress he is making. In the big world these are tiny, but in the Neurological world they are huge. He is defying odds and this is all down to his family ensuring Carter gets what he needs every second of the day.

 

 

Carters Parent’s:

 

No one can ever begin to comprehend grieving a child you have lost forever while they are physically here, pure and utter torture, we are completely heartbroken.

 

We continue to pray, surrounding his room with love, happiness, memories and comforts for our beautiful boy who lit up the room with his smile and hope that he can continue to do so in the future.

 

We are a private family who have never been very open on social media so we feel completely out of our comfort zone.

We find ourselves in a heartbreaking and financially stressful situation.

Our first family of 4 holiday since the pandemic has had to be cancelled with no refund regardless of the current circumstances.  We are both self employed and our own savings have been used up having recently gone into our family business, even so any savings and our income alone will never come close to the lifelong costs of Carters needs.

 

Carter went from the most happiest healthiest 1 year old who reached all of his milestones with no concerns to suddenly afflicted by an unknown life changing event overnight.

 

Carter’s story is extremely rare.

What has happened to Carter is something that has never been witnessed at RMCH let alone in the whole of the UK.

 

He is yet to have a diagnosis and more than likely never will. One thing is for sure, we will continue to fight forever and always to ensure our beautiful boy will suffer no more and enjoy life to the fullest.

 

We hope we can raise awareness of Carters story and hope that one day, a medical breakthrough will be found and one day no other children and their families will ever endure this pain and suffering x

 

 

 

No matter how big or small your donation is greatly appreciated and will help relieve the financial pressure from Carter’s family so that they may concentrate on what is most important, their precious little boy.

 

We want to thank you all for taking the time to read Carters story and are eternally grateful for all the donations you are able to raise or give.

If you would like to make a donation directly to Carter just let us know and this can by added to this to the total as an offline donation. Please also let us know if you would prefer to do your own fundraising in aid of Carter.

 

Thank you so much for every ounce of your generosity and support.

 

Follow Carters journey on Instagram;

carters_courage

 

https://instagram.com/carters_courage?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

 

Carter & Family x