Help support Colton in his wait for the Perfect Heart

Everyone who has met Colton knows that he is a Wild child who loves to run around and has the personality that can brighten anyone’s day. Well on July 23rd 2024 we woke up and he just wasn’t himself. He didn’t want to eat, play and looked extremely swollen. Assuming it was just the hot weather, and knowing that he’d just had his 4th open heart surgery a few months prior, I wasn't to concerned and didn’t feel it was worth a trip to the ER.(he’s done this before and especially with it being so hot) I decided to message his cardiologist and send a few pictures hoping that he would agree it was just the weather. Instead we received the heartbreaking words “Take him to Cleveland Clinic ER and speak to heart function because Colton looks to be in heart failure”. We immediately packed his bags and rushed to Cleveland, where we were admitted immediately and waited for all the test results to come back. After what seemed like forever we were told that we would not be going home until a Heart Transplant was done. All the test results had shown that his little body was not functioning well with the Fontan circulation they had done March of 2024 and his right side (good side) was failing. The next few days seemed to be a slow blur where our once happy, energetic child was intubated and heavily medicated to give his body a break. On Monday Aug 12, 2024 Colton went in for his 5th open heart surgery in order to place a Berlin Pump (assist device) that will help his right pumping chamber pump and push the oxygen his body needs to thrive and patiently wait for his perfect heart.

Now we will remain inpatient at the Cleveland clinic until we receive that call that a donor heart is available. (Which can take up to a year in our region). During this long wait I have moved into the clinic to stay with Colton, and leave once a week to go home and spend time with Peyton who will be starting back in school, and doing cheer. (In hopes we can give get some sort of stability and routine to distract her from her mama and little brother not being home). Brian and her come up every chance they can.(which has become very costly, practically now having 2 “households” to take care of.)

Im not good at asking for help, and we were hoping we would not have to go thru this until much later in Colton’s life, but God had other plans. We appreciate everyone who has been calling, texting and reaching out. This little man has an army behind him. ♥️

It you would like to help it is so appreciated but don’t feel obligated to. Thank you again to everyone who has shown so much love and been praying for this little warrior and his family.