At 9 days old, Koda Phillips had his first SVT episode. He was transferred from the local hospital by ambulance to Niswongers Children's hospital. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is when the heart beats at irregular, rapid speeds.  During his episodes his rate gets up to 300 bpm, quivering instead of beating. While short bursts of SVT are not uncommon in children or adults, continual lenghthy episodes, as Koda has, can be a serious problem.
He was put on a medication to help prevent them. 

At 2 months old, Koda was taken to the hospital because he became very pale and wouldn't eat. Once at Russell County Medical Center, they confirmed he was in SVT. Because he had not been eating, even though it had been a short time, he became severely dehydrated which prevented staff from getting a successful IV started in order to give him medicine to stop the SVT. They had to do an IV that was inserted into his bone marrow in order to get the medicine into his system. Once again, RCMC transferred him by ambulance to Nisewongers. Because he was in critical condition, the doctor caring for him at RCMC rode with him to Niswongers.

Koda began going into SVT much more frequently, with his oxygen dropping, not allowing him to breath easily without assistance because of the strain on the heart and lack of blood flow to the lungs. Going into SVT as many times as he has, caused concern for the doctors because it would lead to damaging the organs by not getting the blood supply that they need. They dertermined that Koda had decreased function in his heart due to the lenghth and frequency of the events. The original medication was no longer working and he was cycling frequently into SVT.  The medical team at Niswongers felt it would be best to have him transported to the hospital at the University of Virginia by a critical care ambulance through Pegasus. Koda is currently being treated in the Pediatric ICU at University of Virginia. Mom and Grammy are by his side. Daddy stayed home to work and care for Koda's big brother, Maverick.

Due to having 2 ambulance transports and a 5+ hour ride in a critical care transport, the bills are definitely adding up to outrageous amounts. The family does have insurance but they still need to pay out of pocket for deductibles and other expenses.

Any donations to help pay these bills, and medication costs (insurance doesn't cover the medicine that he needs because it is a compound medicine) would be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you for reading, donating and Please share Koda's story!