Carter Heidecker's Heart Fund
Donation protected
Carter Gale Heidecker came into the world at 1:43PM on Tuesday, July 11th, 8 days after his due date. Mom and dad were overwhelmed with joy to meet their baby boy, but he was quickly sent to the warming table as he was very blue at birth.
Suddenly the room filled with doctors from all different departments to determine what was causing the issue. After 10+ doctors and nurses assessed, it was determined he would need to be airlifted to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. The next thirty minutes were a blur as they prepared him to be transported to the NICU for further evaluation.
Mom was unable to go because of her recovery, but dad rushed down to the hospital as soon as possible to make sure Carter was in good hands. The first night in the NICU he went through two procedures to keep open a hole in his heart that usually closes after birth to help his blood mix properly. The procedure was needed because they determined he had Transposition of the Great Arteries, a defect that affects around 1 in 4000 newborns every year. With this heart defect, red, oxygenated blood is pumped to the lungs rather than the rest of the body, and blue, non-oxygenated blood is pumped to the body instead of the lungs to get oxygen.
We spoke with many doctors about what was next for Carter, and it was determined he would need open heart surgery to fix the flow of blood to his heart and the rest of his body. He was in the NICU for the first few days, but was transferred to his own room in the CVICU to be monitored up until his surgery. After 11 days in the hospital, Carter had his surgery on the morning of Friday, July 21 to repair his heart. While Carter will need to visit with a cardiologist for the rest of his life, he is expected to make a full recovery and be a normal little boy.
Through all of this, Carter proved to be as strong as he is adorable. He was able to hold his own and was able to wait on his surgery for 10 days while other more urgent surgeries were performed. This was heartening to know, but it has placed a larger financial burden on Carter’s parents as it extends his hospital stay. Erin and Paul are so grateful for the miracle performed by the surgeons at UMMC, but now need help covering the medical expenses of this surgery. Please consider donating to help out this young couple so they can concentrate on getting Carter better.
Suddenly the room filled with doctors from all different departments to determine what was causing the issue. After 10+ doctors and nurses assessed, it was determined he would need to be airlifted to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. The next thirty minutes were a blur as they prepared him to be transported to the NICU for further evaluation.
Mom was unable to go because of her recovery, but dad rushed down to the hospital as soon as possible to make sure Carter was in good hands. The first night in the NICU he went through two procedures to keep open a hole in his heart that usually closes after birth to help his blood mix properly. The procedure was needed because they determined he had Transposition of the Great Arteries, a defect that affects around 1 in 4000 newborns every year. With this heart defect, red, oxygenated blood is pumped to the lungs rather than the rest of the body, and blue, non-oxygenated blood is pumped to the body instead of the lungs to get oxygen.
We spoke with many doctors about what was next for Carter, and it was determined he would need open heart surgery to fix the flow of blood to his heart and the rest of his body. He was in the NICU for the first few days, but was transferred to his own room in the CVICU to be monitored up until his surgery. After 11 days in the hospital, Carter had his surgery on the morning of Friday, July 21 to repair his heart. While Carter will need to visit with a cardiologist for the rest of his life, he is expected to make a full recovery and be a normal little boy.
Through all of this, Carter proved to be as strong as he is adorable. He was able to hold his own and was able to wait on his surgery for 10 days while other more urgent surgeries were performed. This was heartening to know, but it has placed a larger financial burden on Carter’s parents as it extends his hospital stay. Erin and Paul are so grateful for the miracle performed by the surgeons at UMMC, but now need help covering the medical expenses of this surgery. Please consider donating to help out this young couple so they can concentrate on getting Carter better.
Organizer and beneficiary
Katie Lewerenz
Organizer
Darwin, MN
Erin Heidecker
Beneficiary
