Supporting Colter's Medical Journey

Alex and Jolynn Schlarmann are highschool sweethearts from Dyersville who had Colter James on April 7th, 2024. Shortly after Christmas 2024, Colter developed a fever that wouldn't respond to treatment. He became lethargic and his parents saught medical attention.

On January 6th, 2025-- After various doctors, Colter was taken to Iowa City for suspected meningitis. Upon admittance, Colter went into septic shock and was admitted to the PICU.

January 7th-- A CT scan of his brain looked good. Spent two more days in PICU, and labs came back as "salmonella" in the blood.

January 9th-- Colter got antibiotics for Salmonella and was sent home.

January 10th-- The next morning, Colter was taken back to the ER in Dubuque for a lumbar puncture. Colter was sent by ambulance back to Iowa City to be admitted for a rare salmonella bacterial meningitis.

February 7th-- Colter is finishing a course of treatment and is being closely monitored as fluid is increasing in his brain. Colter is strong, and it's too early to tell if this will delay him reaching any developmental milestones.

February 8th— Colter was transferred back to Iowa City by ambulance and underwent an MRI.

February 10th— Colter was referred to and transferred by ambulance to UW Children’s hospital in Madison from Iowa City, since Iowa City’s pediatric neurosurgery team was unable to conclusively interpret the MRI.

February 14th- Colter is back home with close monitoring for fluid levels on the brain for the next several months, and imaging again at Madison in two weeks or sooner for fluid levels.

February 27th- Colter's MRI shows fluid still on the brain. Looks like he might be starting to heal, but another MRI is needed in 4 weeks.

March 10th- Went in for a check-up and lab work came back with numbers out of range. Colter received a blood transfusion, EEG, and MRI. Infectious disease and neurosurgery decided the fluid on his brain may be infected and reinfecting him.

March 11th- Colter is scheduled to have the fluid on his brain flushed and tested this afternoon.

Jolynn and Alex don't know what medical bills they're going to be facing, but know Colter's care will be expensive. Alex works full-time at Rite-Hite in Dubuque, and Jolynn works at raising chickens and homeschooling their 6 small children: Finnick (7yrs), Duncan (5yrs), Elon (4yrs), Lyle (2 yrs), Evanna (2yrs), and Colter (8 months).