Support Isaac’s Continued Road to Recovery

Hello, we are the Ford family. Isaac is our 6 year old son, he has a twin sister, and 3 older brothers, 9, 13, and 18. In April, right after Easter, he was diagnosed with an ear infection. Then after a week of multiple trips back to the doctors, with his pain only getting worse, we brought him to the local emergency department. After a CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in his brain, mastoiditis, meningitis, and an unrelated aneurism in his neck, it was decided he should be transported to Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland. There, an MRI further revealed, many more blood clots, one of which was blocking the return blood out of the brain causing intracranial pressure causing other issues.

After 3 1/2 weeks of blood thinners, a feeding tube, strong antibiotics and too many medical procedures, tests, and specialists to count at the hospital with Mumma at his side, he came home...for one week.

At a follow up appointment at his Ophthalmologist's they realized that the pressure in his head was still adversely affecting his optic nerves and discs causing lasting and somewhat irreversible damage to his vision. So back to Barbara Bush they went. More tests, including lumbar punctures to asses cranial pressure and rule out other things.

After three more weeks at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital attempting to treat his increased pressure they came home...for one week.

At his next follow-up with his ophthalmologists, his optic nerves and discs were still swollen. Concerned with permanent vision damage he felt a second opinion was warranted at Boston Children's Hospital. After more tests and new medications they were able to stop the progression of vision loss but not reverse it. Also while at Boston Children's Isaac came down with a C-Diff infection, which was very unpleasant. After 2 weeks at Boston Children's Hospital, he finally got his appetite back, his pressures were improving and was able to come home, again.

After a week home he went to his ophthalmologist appointment in Boston and...came back home. His optic nerves had not gotten worse, and as of July 16th, he and Mom are still home. Isaac still has many, many doctors appointments in Portland and Boston including a cerebral angiography to asses the aneurysm in his neck. The angiography's results will shed light on how to treat the aneurysm the near future. Where the aneurysm sits and it's size, the fear is it can cause reduced blood flow, blood clots, and strokes. Some appointments will require overnight stays in Boston which is 4 1/2 hours away.

While Isaac and Erin (Mom) were at the hospital, Sam (Dad), who is self employed, was home with the other kids and therefore not able to work. Plus he had given his 2 weeks notice at his current position and hadn't even had a chance to work his new position. Both companies were very supportive and covered the sales routes the best they could, and we are forever grateful.

Insurance has covered most medical treatments however food, fuel, and lodging as well as basic household expenses have put us in a bind. Our families and friends and even some strangers have really stepped up to help us, but we need a bit more help to get back on our feet and to get Isaac to and from his doctor's appointments and procedures.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Thank you very much!

Erin, Sam, Carson, Kaden, Kylan, Isaac, Eve