Love for Liam
Donation protected
On June 4th 2013, Liam Dale Sprague was diagnosed with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a chronic and sometimes progressive disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium), is abnormally enlarged, thickened and/or stiffened. The condition typically begins in the walls of the heart's lower chambers (ventricles), and in more severe cases also affects the walls of the upper chambers (atria). The actual muscle cells as well as the surrounding tissues of the heart become damaged. Eventually, the weakened heart loses the ability to pump blood effectively and heart failure or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias or dysrhythmia) may occur.
Cardiomyopathy is nondiscriminatory in that it can affect any adult or child at any stage of their life. It is not gender, geographic, race or age specific. It is a particularly rare disease when diagnosed in infants and young children. Cardiomyopathy continues to be the leading reason for heart transplants in children.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is the least common type of cardiomyopathy accounting for only 5% of patients with cardiomyopathy. It is especially rare in children. With this condition, the walls of the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) have normal pumping function but abnormal relaxation. The ventricles become rigid and lose their flexibility to expand. As a result the upper chambers of the heart (atria) become enlarged while the lower pumping chambers (ventricles) remain normal in size. Eventually, the blood flow to the heart is restricted. This condition in children is usually idiopathic (occurring without a known cause), but with adults it typically results from another disease occurring elsewhere in the body.
Just 16 days after Liam's diagnosis he went in for an MRI and short after went into cardiac arrest. After nearly 2 hours of chest compressions, Liam is back and is putting up a good fight for his life. Liam was placed on ECMO shortly after is arrival to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. ECMO is a manchine that pumps the blood out of his body and does the work of both his heart and lungs, thus allowing his heart and lungs some time to rest an heal.
Liam has many prayer warriors thinking about him and praying for him and his family 24/7, and God is listening! Miracles are happening and Liam is proof. While sedated, Liam is responding to commands and trying to find ways to communicate with his nurses, doctors, and family. Although this is HUGE news, Liam really needs to rest and get ready for his journey to move forward.
As of today, June 22nd, Liam is currently waiting for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to arrive and transport him to their facility where he will be assessed, switched to a Berlin Heart, and placed at the top of the transplant list and wait for his new heart.
As if this situation isn't hard enough for Liam and his family to deal with, they are now having to worry about the huge medical expenses that will soon be pouring in. Liam, Carolynn, and Rich know that they have many wonderful people praying for them and are very appreciative of everyone's generousity during this difficult time. As a friend of the family, I thought it would be nice if they could spend all of their time and energy on Liam and NOT on the thousands of dollars that they will be forced to pay VERY soon. No parent should have to worry about financial hardships while their son is fighting for his life. Right now Rich and Carolynn need to worry less and love more!
Any donation big or small is very much appreciated and all prayers are encouraged!
Please follow Liam's Journey by visiting the site below:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/liamsprague
Thank you for your support!
Cardiomyopathy is nondiscriminatory in that it can affect any adult or child at any stage of their life. It is not gender, geographic, race or age specific. It is a particularly rare disease when diagnosed in infants and young children. Cardiomyopathy continues to be the leading reason for heart transplants in children.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is the least common type of cardiomyopathy accounting for only 5% of patients with cardiomyopathy. It is especially rare in children. With this condition, the walls of the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) have normal pumping function but abnormal relaxation. The ventricles become rigid and lose their flexibility to expand. As a result the upper chambers of the heart (atria) become enlarged while the lower pumping chambers (ventricles) remain normal in size. Eventually, the blood flow to the heart is restricted. This condition in children is usually idiopathic (occurring without a known cause), but with adults it typically results from another disease occurring elsewhere in the body.
Just 16 days after Liam's diagnosis he went in for an MRI and short after went into cardiac arrest. After nearly 2 hours of chest compressions, Liam is back and is putting up a good fight for his life. Liam was placed on ECMO shortly after is arrival to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. ECMO is a manchine that pumps the blood out of his body and does the work of both his heart and lungs, thus allowing his heart and lungs some time to rest an heal.
Liam has many prayer warriors thinking about him and praying for him and his family 24/7, and God is listening! Miracles are happening and Liam is proof. While sedated, Liam is responding to commands and trying to find ways to communicate with his nurses, doctors, and family. Although this is HUGE news, Liam really needs to rest and get ready for his journey to move forward.
As of today, June 22nd, Liam is currently waiting for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to arrive and transport him to their facility where he will be assessed, switched to a Berlin Heart, and placed at the top of the transplant list and wait for his new heart.
As if this situation isn't hard enough for Liam and his family to deal with, they are now having to worry about the huge medical expenses that will soon be pouring in. Liam, Carolynn, and Rich know that they have many wonderful people praying for them and are very appreciative of everyone's generousity during this difficult time. As a friend of the family, I thought it would be nice if they could spend all of their time and energy on Liam and NOT on the thousands of dollars that they will be forced to pay VERY soon. No parent should have to worry about financial hardships while their son is fighting for his life. Right now Rich and Carolynn need to worry less and love more!
Any donation big or small is very much appreciated and all prayers are encouraged!
Please follow Liam's Journey by visiting the site below:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/liamsprague
Thank you for your support!
Organizer
Linzi 'Shelton' Horsley
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN
