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Hi, my name is David Smith, my nephew Seth Callahan is a great guy. He and his wife Jessica have been through a lot. They married about 12 years ago with the typical hopes and dreams of every young couple. They had a son, Connor and a soon became pregnant with their second baby. When Carter was born, in April of 2007, his lungs were not developed due to a congenital disorder that caused a hole in is diaphragm. He died only 4 hours later.
Later on August 15, 2008, they would have a daughter, Caylynn, at Boston's Children's Hospital. Right away she was not breathing correctly and within 6 weeks she needed emergency surgery on her airway. Within the first few months of her young life she was medflighted or rushed to Children's Hospital several times with various illness and breathing issues. Caylynn spent many days in the ICU as an infant.
Connor got sick often during this time also. It seemed there wasn't a time when one of them wasn't in the hospital with a serious infection or respiratory illness. Both had several surgeries and appointments to specialists. Connor had constant infections, breathing and GI issues. Seth and Jessica did not understand why their children were so very sick. It took a year to get diagnosed with an Immune deficiency disorder.
Finally, they got the devastating diagnosis that both children had a rare primary immune deficiency, called Hypogammaglobulin Anemia. For years after the diagnosis Jess & Seth took them into Children's Hospital for infusions of the gammaglobulin which is the similar to receiving chemotherapy every three weeks. On top of this they were seeing specialists in Boston every week.
Right now they are doing weekly infusions from home but they are at a very high risk of serious infections. When they do contract an infection their illness requires double or triple the typical antibiotic dose to fight it off.
The children's illnesses and Carter's death emotionally and financially devastated Seth and Jess. In January 2011, just as they were starting to rebound financially, Seth had a terrible accident. He was working as a carpenter and his right hand went through a table saw. Seth dismembered 3 fingers and had to have multiple surgeries. With the amount of damage done he was lucky to have excellent surgeons. With countless hours of rehabilitation he regained most of the use of his hand.
During Seth's recovery for his hand Jess was diagnosed with an autoimmune GI issue. She was hospitalized for about a week. Seth was taking care of the children while recovering from his most current surgery.
About a year ago Seth began to work at his brother's new pool business servicing, maintaining and building pools. Once again they were starting to get back on their feet. Though he didn't realize it for months, last fall 2015 he contracted Lyme disease. During the winter of 2016 Seth broke his tailbone and also became quite ill with serious nosebleeds requiring hospitalizations and surgery. After the surgery for his nose Seth became very sick. The signs of acute liver failure were starting to show. Doctor's did not know what was going on so they started doing many tests and discovered only then that Seth had contracted Lyme. He was then hospitalized for a week in May 2016. Doctors prescribed doxycyline. While recovering from the Lyme, the doxycycline seemed to have hurt his liver more. Seth was put on multiple vitamins and sent to a specialist for his liver issue. A week after being discharged from the hospital they saw a GI specialist. Within 3 days he was hospitalized again for 3 weeks at Boston's Beth Israel. He was extremely sick and was very high risk. He had a 50/50 chance of living. His liver was not doing its job.
The doctors at Beth Israel discovered that Seth had Wilson's Disease. Wilson's is a rare disease where copper isn't eliminated properly and instead accumulates, sometimes to a life-threatening level as in Seth's case. Wilson disease affects approximately one in 30,000 people worldwide.
At 36, Seth will be on a lifetime of medications, doctor appointments, bloodwork and a very strict diet. Currently Seth and Jess are hoping for the best. Seth is still feeling tired. He cannot work because the risk of infection is too high and other medical complications.
Donations will be used for daily expenses and medical bills which have risen into the tens of thousands.
Your donation will help two young kids have a normal childhood. Your donation will enable Connor and Caylynn to have parents that are not worried about their expenses and their health. The Callahan’s will be able to breath without this heavy burden!
Thank you so much for any donation you can give. We truly wish the best for Seth and Jessica and know that they will humbly appreciate the help.
Later on August 15, 2008, they would have a daughter, Caylynn, at Boston's Children's Hospital. Right away she was not breathing correctly and within 6 weeks she needed emergency surgery on her airway. Within the first few months of her young life she was medflighted or rushed to Children's Hospital several times with various illness and breathing issues. Caylynn spent many days in the ICU as an infant.
Connor got sick often during this time also. It seemed there wasn't a time when one of them wasn't in the hospital with a serious infection or respiratory illness. Both had several surgeries and appointments to specialists. Connor had constant infections, breathing and GI issues. Seth and Jessica did not understand why their children were so very sick. It took a year to get diagnosed with an Immune deficiency disorder.
Finally, they got the devastating diagnosis that both children had a rare primary immune deficiency, called Hypogammaglobulin Anemia. For years after the diagnosis Jess & Seth took them into Children's Hospital for infusions of the gammaglobulin which is the similar to receiving chemotherapy every three weeks. On top of this they were seeing specialists in Boston every week.
Right now they are doing weekly infusions from home but they are at a very high risk of serious infections. When they do contract an infection their illness requires double or triple the typical antibiotic dose to fight it off.
The children's illnesses and Carter's death emotionally and financially devastated Seth and Jess. In January 2011, just as they were starting to rebound financially, Seth had a terrible accident. He was working as a carpenter and his right hand went through a table saw. Seth dismembered 3 fingers and had to have multiple surgeries. With the amount of damage done he was lucky to have excellent surgeons. With countless hours of rehabilitation he regained most of the use of his hand.
During Seth's recovery for his hand Jess was diagnosed with an autoimmune GI issue. She was hospitalized for about a week. Seth was taking care of the children while recovering from his most current surgery.
About a year ago Seth began to work at his brother's new pool business servicing, maintaining and building pools. Once again they were starting to get back on their feet. Though he didn't realize it for months, last fall 2015 he contracted Lyme disease. During the winter of 2016 Seth broke his tailbone and also became quite ill with serious nosebleeds requiring hospitalizations and surgery. After the surgery for his nose Seth became very sick. The signs of acute liver failure were starting to show. Doctor's did not know what was going on so they started doing many tests and discovered only then that Seth had contracted Lyme. He was then hospitalized for a week in May 2016. Doctors prescribed doxycyline. While recovering from the Lyme, the doxycycline seemed to have hurt his liver more. Seth was put on multiple vitamins and sent to a specialist for his liver issue. A week after being discharged from the hospital they saw a GI specialist. Within 3 days he was hospitalized again for 3 weeks at Boston's Beth Israel. He was extremely sick and was very high risk. He had a 50/50 chance of living. His liver was not doing its job.
The doctors at Beth Israel discovered that Seth had Wilson's Disease. Wilson's is a rare disease where copper isn't eliminated properly and instead accumulates, sometimes to a life-threatening level as in Seth's case. Wilson disease affects approximately one in 30,000 people worldwide.
At 36, Seth will be on a lifetime of medications, doctor appointments, bloodwork and a very strict diet. Currently Seth and Jess are hoping for the best. Seth is still feeling tired. He cannot work because the risk of infection is too high and other medical complications.
Donations will be used for daily expenses and medical bills which have risen into the tens of thousands.
Your donation will help two young kids have a normal childhood. Your donation will enable Connor and Caylynn to have parents that are not worried about their expenses and their health. The Callahan’s will be able to breath without this heavy burden!
Thank you so much for any donation you can give. We truly wish the best for Seth and Jessica and know that they will humbly appreciate the help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Callahan
Beneficiary