Carson’s Journey

Carson is an active, funny and courageous 14 year old. He is a Freshman in High School  and is on the Varsity Wrestling Team. He loves hunting, playing all sports and country music. When he was 4 years old he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Since then it has been years of challenges managing his diabetes and the complications that come with it. Over the past couple years Carson has had multiple infections leading to issues with his kidneys.

During the summer of 2019 Carson got another infection and since then has had a residual cough and respiratory issues. He has had numerous doctor appointments and multiple medications trying to get to the route of the problem and treat his chronic cough. Over the last 2 months his cough had progressively gotten worse. Often times making it difficult to breath or coughing so much it makes him vomit.  He had a recent bronchoscopy in January  which is a procedure that allows  doctors to look at his lungs and airway passages. During the bronchoscopy the doctors diagnosed him with severe case of Tracheobronchomalacia. This is a rare condition that occurs when the walls of the airways are weak and narrow and will collapse during breathing, exhaling and coughing; making it difficult to breathe. This condition will  result in recurring respiratory infections and make it difficult to recover from respiratory illness. It will lead to progressive lung injury. This condition when diagnosed is more frequently seen in infants or adults. 

Given the severity and Carson's age there are only 2 out of state facilities that can do the surgery that he desperately needs. Our team of doctors here in NC (which includes doctors from Wake, Duke and UNC) have  referred us to a new team of doctors at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. We will start making trips to Cincinnati for  appointments and necessary tests at the Cincinnati Children's over the upcoming weeks. These appointments  will then aid in the planning of his major surgery.  In the meantime, Carson is struggling to wear a CPAP machine at night to help keep his airways open while he tries to sleep.  There have been many sleepless nights. Carson has missed weeks of his Freshman year due to hospitalizations and sickness related to this diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia and will miss many more weeks as we hopefully get the treatment he so desperately needs. In addition to prayers, we are asking for any monetary donations that will help us cover medical bills, traveling expenses , medicines, equipment (like CPAP), etc... would be greatly appreciated. The first trip to Cincinnati Children's for repeated evaluations and testing  will be in the next couple weeks. Our family is extremely grateful for the love, support and prayers we have received from our family and friends. We ask that you continue to keep us close to your hearts. 

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