Ava's Medical and Travel Expenses
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Ava was born January 9, 2015. She was a healthy, beautiful baby girl. At 4 weeks old, Ava started having trouble breathing and she was admitted to the Children's hospital with RSV. After a few days of monitoring, she was stable enough to go home. We were so happy to take our sweet girl home.
Over the next few months, she kept getting ear infections. She was referred to an ENT specialist who recommended putting tubes in her ears. Ava had her first surgery at just 7 months old.
In October, Ava started having breathing problems and was diagnosed with pneumonia again. She was referred to a Pulmonologist and the testing began. Over the next few months she was tested for Cystic Fibrosis, had a CT Scan of her lungs, Bronchoscopy, and Biopsies done. During the bronchoscopy her lungs collapsed and took longer than they should to reinflate. She was diagnosed with chronic atelectasis and bronchomalacia.
In May, Ava was diagnosed with pneumonia for the 6th time and was hospitalized again. She needed a PICC line for 10 days of antibiotics. Ava's immunologist wanted some labs and the results came back abnormal. Her T Cells do not function. More labs were drawn and sent to Duke for a more in-depth study. Those revealed that her T cells can not fight off fungal infections.
Her Pulmonologist has also referred Ava to a specialist at UNC Chapel Hill for testing and treatment options for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. She has an appointment July 18th and we will find out all the details then.
Every day with Ava is crucial. Daily temps with anything above 100' require a hospital visit with probable admission, Chest physical therapy 4 times a day, breathing treatments 4 times a day, inhalers 2 times a day and as needed. Every thing matters.
Due to the daily care needed, Ava requires much more energy and attention than I could ever have imagined. I have stopped working so I could be home with her and go with her to all of her appointments. I am having to make travel arrangements for our many trips to UNC now and I am struggling with being able to afford accommodations while we maintain our home here in Norfolk.
I can't thank you guys enough for taking the time to read this and hope that you will keep her in your thoughts and prayers. At just 18-months-old, Ava has struggled and endured much more than most do. From the bottom of our hearts, we pray for her recovery, her future treatments, and a long and happy life she can live.
Over the next few months, she kept getting ear infections. She was referred to an ENT specialist who recommended putting tubes in her ears. Ava had her first surgery at just 7 months old.
In October, Ava started having breathing problems and was diagnosed with pneumonia again. She was referred to a Pulmonologist and the testing began. Over the next few months she was tested for Cystic Fibrosis, had a CT Scan of her lungs, Bronchoscopy, and Biopsies done. During the bronchoscopy her lungs collapsed and took longer than they should to reinflate. She was diagnosed with chronic atelectasis and bronchomalacia.
In May, Ava was diagnosed with pneumonia for the 6th time and was hospitalized again. She needed a PICC line for 10 days of antibiotics. Ava's immunologist wanted some labs and the results came back abnormal. Her T Cells do not function. More labs were drawn and sent to Duke for a more in-depth study. Those revealed that her T cells can not fight off fungal infections.
Her Pulmonologist has also referred Ava to a specialist at UNC Chapel Hill for testing and treatment options for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. She has an appointment July 18th and we will find out all the details then.
Every day with Ava is crucial. Daily temps with anything above 100' require a hospital visit with probable admission, Chest physical therapy 4 times a day, breathing treatments 4 times a day, inhalers 2 times a day and as needed. Every thing matters.
Due to the daily care needed, Ava requires much more energy and attention than I could ever have imagined. I have stopped working so I could be home with her and go with her to all of her appointments. I am having to make travel arrangements for our many trips to UNC now and I am struggling with being able to afford accommodations while we maintain our home here in Norfolk.
I can't thank you guys enough for taking the time to read this and hope that you will keep her in your thoughts and prayers. At just 18-months-old, Ava has struggled and endured much more than most do. From the bottom of our hearts, we pray for her recovery, her future treatments, and a long and happy life she can live.
Organizer
Kylie Dishmon
Organizer
Norfolk, VA