Please Help 8-Week-Old Avery Shiloh

Our sweet Avery Shiloh, just 8 weeks old, faces an incredibly challenging battle. She has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, and the infection has caused two abscesses on her brain. These abscesses are putting significant pressure on her brain, leading to seizures and a high fever. To make things even more difficult, Avery has also tested positive for COVID-19, adding another layer of complexity to her condition. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Avery’s strength shines through—she’s breathing on her own, and we even got a smile from her this morning, a beautiful reminder of her resilience.

We are deeply grateful to Hardin County Medical Center for their swift action in starting treatment and to Air Evac for airlifting her to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where she is receiving expert care. However, the medical costs have been astronomical. The emergency helicopter flight alone to transport Avery to Le Bonheur is expected to cost over $25,000 USD and is classified as “out-of-network,” meaning it will not be fully covered by insurance.

Over the past two weeks, Avery has been treated in three different hospitals across two states. This constant movement has added even more stress to an already overwhelming situation. On top of this, we anticipate out-of-pocket medical expenses exceeding $75,000, not including the lost wages from Ashley Hall-Kelley, Avery’s mom, who has been unable to return to work after her maternity leave as planned. The hospital is several hours away from her workplace, and Avery needs her by her side during this critical time. Avery’s grandmother, Vickie Kelley, has been staying in the hospital with them, offering her support and care as the family navigates this difficult journey together.

Unfortunately, Avery’s last MRI was “abnormal,” indicating that there is still cause for concern as we continue to seek answers and solutions. Medically, everything is unknown right now, and we are taking it day by day. While we are optimistic that Avery will make a full recovery, neither we nor the doctors can predict what the future holds at this time. We are focused on supporting Avery in every way possible and providing her with the care she needs to fight through this.

We also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out to our family. Your messages of love, encouragement, and offers to help mean more to us than we can express. This overwhelming outpouring of support reminds us that we are not alone in this journey, and we are deeply touched by your kindness.

If you can help at all, it will make a tremendous difference in relieving some of the overwhelming pressure we are facing. Everyone says, “Don’t worry about the money now,” but it’s easier said than done when the debt isn’t yours. The mounting costs and financial strain have added to an already heartbreaking situation, and your support—whether through a donation or sharing this campaign—would be a lifeline for our family.

Avery is lucky enough to have three sets of loving grandparents supporting her every step of the way. I, Michael Hall, am writing this on behalf of all of us: Michael and Pai Hall, Chuck and Jennifer Budah, and Mike and Vickie Kelley. Thank you for standing with Avery and our family. Together, we can help her overcome these challenges and move toward a brighter, healthier future.