Support for Edward's medical bills

We have set up this gofundme to raise money to help the Larson family with recent financial challenges they have faced with her 3 year old son's medical bills. Erica & Phil have 3 kids (with one more on the way), so this has been extremely challenging for the family, and we are hoping we can help to support beyond the many thoughts and prayers all of you have sent their way. Summary from Erica below with regular updates on Edward's progress.

If you'd prefer to send direct to Erica vs through gofundme, here is her info: Venmo Erica-Larson-34, phone: 1352; Paypal @ericalarson15.

A benefit fund has been set up at Dacotah Bank: 321 Main Ave, Lemmon, SD 57638; (605) [phone redacted].

T-shirt fundraiser: https://edwardstrong23.itemorder.com/

Current goal is $20,000, which are estimated bills. As bills are received, we will update the goal so it's clear what your donation is going toward. Anticipated bills not yet received are:

January 1 Update:

Our babies are sound asleep, after a busy day. In taking, and finding, a moment to pause and reflect on the year we are saying good-bye to, we continue to come back to the many changes and “seasons” it has been filled with, especially most recently.

In 2023, Phil and I committed to a personal health journey, sold our first home in Elgin, bought a new house and moved back to his hometown of Lemmon, found out we were expecting our (very soon arriving) fourth child, transitioned our kiddos to new schools/daycare/routines, started new jobs ‍ and new community commitments …and most recently, navigated some the scariest and one of the most difficult “seasons” our family has ever experienced.

In the midst of all these changes and “seasons,” the Lord has shown us His presence and love through so many of you…whether prayerfully, fiscally, physically, or personally, we’ve been showered in an outpouring of love and support we could have never imagined. We are so thankful for the special part of our story that so many of you have been this past year. The Lord has shown and taught us a lot in 2023 and used so many of you to do it. So often, we have felt that “thank you” isn’t enough to express our deep gratitude.

Since returning home from Mayo, Edward has had a total of only four seizures …a number that will prayerfully continue to remain low. Mayo helped us rule out so many things, but we still do not have a known cause….so we have been exploring other avenues of care, including daily supplements, chiropractic care, and ionic detoxing, which are helping provide Edward’s liver, nervous system, and upper back/neck with more focalized care. It’s incredible what we have learned about the human body in such a small amount of time. Our hope is that although we may not necessarily get a specific answer to what the cause is/was, that these avenues of additional care will remove any existing issue from his body.

Truthfully, I hope this “season” stays behind in 2023 and that its lessons are what carry us in 2024.

Prayerfully, I ask that 2024 brings continued healing of Edwards’s body, peace for our home and girls who have gone through so much, and strength as we continue to embrace big changes for our growing family in the next few weeks.

Sweet Dreams, 2023

November 27 Update:

Erica & Phil Larson's son, Edward, has had a total of 50 seizures since the beginning of September. Edward's Neuro and Pediatric teams are working hard to understand and regulate his seizures. Edward's seizures have resulted in two ambulance trips, three hospital stays (including an 11 day stay at Mayo Clinic) and two med flights.

The proceeds from this t-shirt fundraiser will go directly to the Larson family and Edward's medical fund.

Please go to the following link to order.

https://edwardstrong23.itemorder.com/

Please keep the Larson family in your prayers!

November 19 - PM Update:

Edward was discharged today, with prayers welcomed that we continue to see progress and positive results. He’s on two medications, along with a temporary bridge medication.

We were able to stay another night at the Ronald McDonald House and will remain near Rochester for the next couple days, in case of any concerns or changes, before making the trip home.

November 19 - AM Update:

Edward’s Neuro Team & Peds Team are cautiously optimistic that another 27 hours seizure-free has us ready for initiating the discharge process.

November 18 Update:

Today has looked a lot different.

Part of that is the girls are here and they totally change the pace. We are thankful to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House with them…what an incredible facility and resource for families. ♥️

The other blessing is that the four seizures Edward has had in the last 24 hours were barely 10-15 seconds long each. Our hope is that this means the therapeutic level of medication has been achieved and that it is being successful in yielding and limiting seizure activity. We will have a better idea in the morning.

We continue to be grateful and in awe of the unyielding love and support our family has received. Thank you all for loving us through this season.

November 17 Update:

Edward had five seizures today…three this morning within a 30 minute window, that were followed by rescue medication, and then two this evening. These ones looked different than before and were typically shorter in length, so hopefully the medications are close to therapeutic level and taking some control, rather than a new concern arising. A new medication was also added today.

November 16 Update:

After yesterday’s “bridge medication,” we’ve been without a seizure for about 34 hours.

Prayerfully, we hope this is more a result of the daily medication getting to the therapeutic level and not solely a temporary result of the “bridge medication.”

Today was full of lots of resting, as the emergency medications worked their way out of his system. When we weren’t resting, we were stealing mom’s Starbucks.

November 15 - PM Update:

Edward had seven seizures, within a three and a half hour window, this morning …two rescue medications and an additional stronger “bridge medication” have him resting hard now. His Neuro Team’s hope is that this will help his brain reset a little bit, while the medication gets to the desired therapeutic range.

Please keep the prayers coming.

November 15 - AM Update:

Our hope is that we’ve found a moment to say thank you to each of you for your prayers, financial support, meals, and acts of kindness. It continues to mean the world to us.

Edward has had a total of eight seizures since we returned, which feels like we are going backward, instead of forward. Today has been heavy…please continue to pray for our sweet boy and for us to find strength in this season.

November 14 Update:

Lots of resting and stealing of cheese curds this evening. We’ve had five seizures today, of greater length and variation than most before, but Edward’s Neuro Team has been working hard to analyze and help us gain the best understanding of care possible. Thank you for all the prayers.

November 13 - PM Update:

Edward woke up this morning having a seizure, which about a half hour later, was followed by 12 minutes of continuous seizure activity.

Continued prayers, as his Neuro Team analyzes the EEG data, would be gladly welcomed!

November 13 - AM Update:

Our discharge was indeed temporary.

Edward woke up this morning and almost immediately seized for more than seven minutes.

We are back in the Pediatric Unit, currently (im)patiently waiting for EEG to arrive and get him hooked up, so we don’t miss observation of the next seizure.

November 12 Update:

We have been temporarily discharged. After 60+ hours of EEG monitoring, and no active seizures observed, Edward’s Neuro Team felt like the “seizure waiting game” could safely be done, not confined to the hospital bed, but close by.

Edward’s typical seizure pattern has been every 7-10 days, so we will remain in Rochester and when the next seizure occurs (likely in the next day or two), his team will readmit him, re-hook him up to the EEG, and monitor subsequent seizures, since they typically occur in clusters.

Although, this is not a fun “waiting game,” we know and understand that his team needs to observe his seizures, in order to best understand where they are occurring in the brain and what exactly is happening. If he has not had a seizure by next Wednesday, he will return to the hospital for continuous EEG monitoring.

Please continue to lift Edward up in prayers, especially as we await another cluster of seizures.

November 10 Update:

Edward has been moved out of the PICU and is continuing the EEG monitoring that he has been doing for the last 24 hours. We are also in the process of genetic testing.

November 9 Update:

We arrived safely at Mayo Clinic. Edward is finally resting, after some of the tougher medications have worked their way out of his system. He is now hooked up for a continuous EEG. Thank you for loving and supporting our sweet little guy in so many ways.

November 8 - PM Update:

The medications have been very hard on his little body and the EEG showed continued seizure activity, even when no visible seizure was occurring. We are headed via Air Med to Mayo Clinic now; Phil will be driving and meeting us there.

Thank you for all the prayers and kindness…it means the world to our family and we are beyond grateful for all the support, both financially and personally.

November 8 - AM Update:

We are currently in the PICU at St. Alexius, awaiting a transfer confirmation to Mayo Clinic. Due to the unpredictability of the seizures, the pediatrician anticipates this will be another Air Med flight.

Summary as of November 7:

Since September 9, Edward has had multiple seizures, resulting in ambulance rides, an Air Med Flight, two multi-day hospital stays in the Pediatric Unit (Fargo & Bismarck, ND), and two neurologist visits. Due to our rural location, all available care is between 125-340 miles away.

He has started three different medications and has had to be administered an emergency rectal medication on four separate occasions, in order to get a series of recurring seizures to stop.

So far, we've accrued about $3,000 in current medical bills and spent roughly $1,000 on travel, meals, etc. We are still waiting on the Air Med Flight bill to come in, which is estimated to be between $12,000-$25,000 for the 350 miles trip, as well as bills for our most recent stay in the ER and Pediatric Unit.

Most recently the neurologist sent a referral to Mayo Clinic for Edward to be seen, as well as ordered an epilepsy blood panel to be completed (10/30...Edward's third birthday) and sent to Mayo, as well. The blood panel is a $7,000 test, prior to insurance.

Edward is in the review process for Mayo now. All the prayers, and potential financial support, would be greatly appreciated.