Carter's Heart Surgery Fund
Donation protected
Update June 1st 2017 --- Carter had his open heart surgery to repair his AV Canal Defect. Surgery went well, currently in the PICU at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. He's on several medications trying to keep him calm. He was able to have the breathing tube removed the same day of surgery. Hoping for a speedy recovery!
Update June 6th: Carter is still in PICU in recovery. Currently on 2 liters of oxygen, still a little concern for his high blood pressure so he's getting medicine for it. He has started to become congested, we are hoping it's just due to the fluids and him laying down for a few days in a row on his back and praying he's not catching a cold or anything. As soon as they are comfortable with his progress they will send him to the 10th floor for inpatient but we are in no rush if he's still needed in PICU.
June 8th: Carter is doing good, he's on the main floor now and got the wound vac taken off so you can now see his scar.
June 12th update: Going home from hospital!
Born:
Carter was born with a complete AV Canal Defect. This happened during early pregnancy, between 6-8 weeks as his heart was forming, it did not completely come together in the middle. He has 2 holes in his heart, one between each the upper and the lower chambers. He will need open heart surgery to correct these issues between 6-9 months of age.
March:
He was admitted to the PICU at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital where he is hooked up to a breathing tube, TP tube, Picc Line, feeding tube, and currently has RSV Type B, E.Coli, Nurovirus, and Pneumonia. He is heavily sedated and paralyzed so he can't move if he were to wake up. He had an incident where they needed to do chest compressions as his heart rate dropped into the lower 40's and was quickly declining. We have been at the University since Tuesday March 14th, and depending on Carter and how this RSV virus affects him, we will probably be here for awhile. Due to the virus, his surgery has been pushed back to repair the 2 holes in his heart for at least 4-6 weeks.
April 7th Update: after being released from the hospital on April 6th, he was admitted again the next day. He tested positive again for RSV type B.. he will be monitored and try to treat it before it gets worse. He is still admitted in the hospital, seems to be doing better with RSV this time around.
April 16th--latest update: Carter is now back in the PICU on oxygen, he dipped down into the 50's with another scare and they want to keep a closer eye on him. He is still being monitored with oxygen, the doctors are debating whether to keep him in the hospital up until surgery.
April 22nd update-- Carter is doing well, he's finally off of oxygen, they are thinking of sending us home next week. The surgery is now set for June 1st, they wanted to wait 6 weeks from the last negative RSV test.
April 29th update: Carter got released from the hospital, he is currently on 9 meds, 3 that he is getting tapered on. Pray that Carter stays healthy at home as we prepare for surgery on June 1st.
Carter: Born on September 14th, 2016
Currently 6 months of age
Everything listed below is what he has had to encounter since being born. He is one strong little guy that has been through more then most babies at his age.
Estimated 1,000+ times thrown up (Averaged around 5 times per day, Oct-May)
Countless doctors visits to Pediatrician, Pediatric Cardiologist, and GI Doctor
62 times poked (foot, head, arm, fingers, wrist)
52 times blood drawn
45 X-Rays (on stomach/chest/abdomen/full body)
36 times NG feeding tube placed/removed
35 different medications he's been put on
17 EKG's electrocardiogram is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart
14 IVs done (20 times poked)
10 Echo's of his heart (ultrasound of heart)
8 Hospital Stays (66 days total so far) Mercy Hospital Cedar Rapids IA, St Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids IA & Univ. of Iowa in Iowa City IA
6 Nose Swabs
4 Emergency Room Visits
3 Ambulance Rides
2 Ultrasounds on stomach
2 Attempts at an arterial line (failed)
2 Cases of RSV type B
2 TP Tube Placed
1 Scope (mini scope done to capture images and clips of tissue to test)
1 NJ Feeding Tube placed & removed
1 Picc line placed
1 arterial line
1 central line
1 catheter
1 Case of Influenza A Virus
1 Case of E.Coli Virus
1 Case of Rhino Virus
1 Case of Nurovirus
1 911 Call to the house
1 Chest Compression to save his life
1 Anesthesia (put to sleep for surgery)
1 Open Heart Surgery (AV Canal Repair)
1 frenotomy surgery (tounge tied repair)
Surgery was scheduled for March 1st 2017, got cancelled due to Influenza and E.Coli 1 week prior to surgery. Surgery will be rescheduled when he is healthy enough, hopefully in the next 4-8 weeks. Surgery rescheduled for May 9th, but now with RSV round 2, it got pushed back to June 1st.
He is currently on several medications to help with is heart defect. Carters parents (Eric & Hayley) have endured a lot of hard work making sure Carter is getting the best care and doing whatever they can to get prepared for his surgery.
This page has been established to assist the family with the medical costs before and after Carter's surgery. With everything listed above that Carter has had to go through, everything costs money and certainly adds up. Not just the medical expenses, but everything else that goes along with hospital stays (food, travel, parking, etc.)
The average cost of pediatric heart surgery is $200,000-$500,000, Even with the best of insurance coverages, the expense to the family is extensive.
The family will give updates as they have them. They ask for prayers and well wishes for Carter and for guidance and knowledge for the doctors involved in his treatment.
Thank you all, God bless.
Update June 6th: Carter is still in PICU in recovery. Currently on 2 liters of oxygen, still a little concern for his high blood pressure so he's getting medicine for it. He has started to become congested, we are hoping it's just due to the fluids and him laying down for a few days in a row on his back and praying he's not catching a cold or anything. As soon as they are comfortable with his progress they will send him to the 10th floor for inpatient but we are in no rush if he's still needed in PICU.
June 8th: Carter is doing good, he's on the main floor now and got the wound vac taken off so you can now see his scar.
June 12th update: Going home from hospital!
Born:
Carter was born with a complete AV Canal Defect. This happened during early pregnancy, between 6-8 weeks as his heart was forming, it did not completely come together in the middle. He has 2 holes in his heart, one between each the upper and the lower chambers. He will need open heart surgery to correct these issues between 6-9 months of age.
March:
He was admitted to the PICU at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital where he is hooked up to a breathing tube, TP tube, Picc Line, feeding tube, and currently has RSV Type B, E.Coli, Nurovirus, and Pneumonia. He is heavily sedated and paralyzed so he can't move if he were to wake up. He had an incident where they needed to do chest compressions as his heart rate dropped into the lower 40's and was quickly declining. We have been at the University since Tuesday March 14th, and depending on Carter and how this RSV virus affects him, we will probably be here for awhile. Due to the virus, his surgery has been pushed back to repair the 2 holes in his heart for at least 4-6 weeks.
April 7th Update: after being released from the hospital on April 6th, he was admitted again the next day. He tested positive again for RSV type B.. he will be monitored and try to treat it before it gets worse. He is still admitted in the hospital, seems to be doing better with RSV this time around.
April 16th--latest update: Carter is now back in the PICU on oxygen, he dipped down into the 50's with another scare and they want to keep a closer eye on him. He is still being monitored with oxygen, the doctors are debating whether to keep him in the hospital up until surgery.
April 22nd update-- Carter is doing well, he's finally off of oxygen, they are thinking of sending us home next week. The surgery is now set for June 1st, they wanted to wait 6 weeks from the last negative RSV test.
April 29th update: Carter got released from the hospital, he is currently on 9 meds, 3 that he is getting tapered on. Pray that Carter stays healthy at home as we prepare for surgery on June 1st.
Carter: Born on September 14th, 2016
Currently 6 months of age
Everything listed below is what he has had to encounter since being born. He is one strong little guy that has been through more then most babies at his age.
Estimated 1,000+ times thrown up (Averaged around 5 times per day, Oct-May)
Countless doctors visits to Pediatrician, Pediatric Cardiologist, and GI Doctor
62 times poked (foot, head, arm, fingers, wrist)
52 times blood drawn
45 X-Rays (on stomach/chest/abdomen/full body)
36 times NG feeding tube placed/removed
35 different medications he's been put on
17 EKG's electrocardiogram is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart
14 IVs done (20 times poked)
10 Echo's of his heart (ultrasound of heart)
8 Hospital Stays (66 days total so far) Mercy Hospital Cedar Rapids IA, St Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids IA & Univ. of Iowa in Iowa City IA
6 Nose Swabs
4 Emergency Room Visits
3 Ambulance Rides
2 Ultrasounds on stomach
2 Attempts at an arterial line (failed)
2 Cases of RSV type B
2 TP Tube Placed
1 Scope (mini scope done to capture images and clips of tissue to test)
1 NJ Feeding Tube placed & removed
1 Picc line placed
1 arterial line
1 central line
1 catheter
1 Case of Influenza A Virus
1 Case of E.Coli Virus
1 Case of Rhino Virus
1 Case of Nurovirus
1 911 Call to the house
1 Chest Compression to save his life
1 Anesthesia (put to sleep for surgery)
1 Open Heart Surgery (AV Canal Repair)
1 frenotomy surgery (tounge tied repair)
Surgery was scheduled for March 1st 2017, got cancelled due to Influenza and E.Coli 1 week prior to surgery. Surgery will be rescheduled when he is healthy enough, hopefully in the next 4-8 weeks. Surgery rescheduled for May 9th, but now with RSV round 2, it got pushed back to June 1st.
He is currently on several medications to help with is heart defect. Carters parents (Eric & Hayley) have endured a lot of hard work making sure Carter is getting the best care and doing whatever they can to get prepared for his surgery.
This page has been established to assist the family with the medical costs before and after Carter's surgery. With everything listed above that Carter has had to go through, everything costs money and certainly adds up. Not just the medical expenses, but everything else that goes along with hospital stays (food, travel, parking, etc.)
The average cost of pediatric heart surgery is $200,000-$500,000, Even with the best of insurance coverages, the expense to the family is extensive.
The family will give updates as they have them. They ask for prayers and well wishes for Carter and for guidance and knowledge for the doctors involved in his treatment.
Thank you all, God bless.
Organizer and beneficiary
Eric Ballew
Organizer
Marion, IA
Eric Ballew
Beneficiary