Wheelchair access for Michael.
Donation protected
The picture is of my son Michael Gabriel Cartwright, I had the privilege of seeing this amazing little boy enter this world, and to my utter despair, I will see him leave.
I was working in Iraq when I heard the news. I was going to become a father again, it was pretty grim out there and when I heard this news I was overjoyed, I could not wait to get home. But our good news was soon turned to mixed emotions when we went for one of the baby scans about six months in. The doctor sat down and proceeded to explain to us that Michael would be born with complex congenital heart disease, Tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia and Hypoplastic Right Heart,
I watched with blurry eyes as Michael was born by c-section, he did not look ill at all, he looked perfect. He even managed to make us laugh when he weed on one of the nurses. A quick kiss from mum (Jo-Carlene) and he was whisked away to another hospital that specialised in tiny hearts. Obviously, I did not leave his side. He had his first open heart surgery twelve hours after he was born. Jo checked herself out of the hospital a day after her c-section to be with Michael, and only five days later we took him home, my boy is tough as old boots, and stubborn! But it's a battle he will inevitably loose. The doctors say about thirteen years old.
Michael's diagnosis is also:
Acquired pulmonary atresia
Bidirectional superior- cavopulmonary anastomosis
Small right ventricle
Michael is five now and he has had open heart surgery three times and some small operations, he gets tired very quickly and needs his wheelchair more and more. We pray for an advancement in medicine but in the mean time we want to do what we can to make him happy. He loves being outside in the garden but being out of his wheelchair he can not stay out long. He gets breathless and his skin turns a shade of blue because of lack of oxygen.
With the money I would make a wheelchair accessible, garden oasis! everything would be at his height or accessible to him, he would not have to get out of his chair. Maybe a small playground for him and my other three children who deal with far too much, far too young. Any money left would be used to make Michaels life better.
I can not imagine a world without my little boy, but even harder to imagine is a world where I did not do everything I possibly could to make him happy.
Without your help progress would be very slow, and time is really is an important factor. Thank you.
Michael Cartwright (Dad)
I was working in Iraq when I heard the news. I was going to become a father again, it was pretty grim out there and when I heard this news I was overjoyed, I could not wait to get home. But our good news was soon turned to mixed emotions when we went for one of the baby scans about six months in. The doctor sat down and proceeded to explain to us that Michael would be born with complex congenital heart disease, Tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia and Hypoplastic Right Heart,
I watched with blurry eyes as Michael was born by c-section, he did not look ill at all, he looked perfect. He even managed to make us laugh when he weed on one of the nurses. A quick kiss from mum (Jo-Carlene) and he was whisked away to another hospital that specialised in tiny hearts. Obviously, I did not leave his side. He had his first open heart surgery twelve hours after he was born. Jo checked herself out of the hospital a day after her c-section to be with Michael, and only five days later we took him home, my boy is tough as old boots, and stubborn! But it's a battle he will inevitably loose. The doctors say about thirteen years old.
Michael's diagnosis is also:
Acquired pulmonary atresia
Bidirectional superior- cavopulmonary anastomosis
Small right ventricle
Michael is five now and he has had open heart surgery three times and some small operations, he gets tired very quickly and needs his wheelchair more and more. We pray for an advancement in medicine but in the mean time we want to do what we can to make him happy. He loves being outside in the garden but being out of his wheelchair he can not stay out long. He gets breathless and his skin turns a shade of blue because of lack of oxygen.
With the money I would make a wheelchair accessible, garden oasis! everything would be at his height or accessible to him, he would not have to get out of his chair. Maybe a small playground for him and my other three children who deal with far too much, far too young. Any money left would be used to make Michaels life better.
I can not imagine a world without my little boy, but even harder to imagine is a world where I did not do everything I possibly could to make him happy.
Without your help progress would be very slow, and time is really is an important factor. Thank you.
Michael Cartwright (Dad)
Organizer
Michael Odin Cartwright
Organizer
