Baby Carter's Medical Expenses

Hello, my name is Chris Kastner and I'm trying to raise money for my family in order to assist my wife Jade and I with paying some unexpected medical expenses for our newborn son, Carter Ethan.

I'm a full-time student working towards a  Master of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine concurrently with a Bachelors of Professional Health Sciences.  I currently already have a Bachelors of Science in Alternative Medicine as well.  Jade works at an elementary school but is only alloted 30 hours a week.  She has a 9 year old daughter named Savannah who lives with us as well. Jade does have insurance through the school board but that only covers a portion of the newly unexpected bills.  We had normal labor and delivery expenses already paid for in full before aquiring now over $100,000 in new medical bills, which is still growing.

Carter came into this world 6 weeks early on February 10, 2016.  A couple of weeks prior to this during  a routine visit and ultrasound, the Dr. found what appeared to be a bowel obstruction in Carter's intestines inside the womb.  We were instructed to go see a specialist the following week for another ultrasound which confirmed a possible bowel obstruction and we were to return on a weekly basis to monitor the situation. On Feb 8 Jade began feeling some pains which she associated with Braxton Hicks.  They did not let up and she went to the hospital.  It was determined she was in labor and the Drs. couldn't stop it so they put her in an ambulance and transfered her up to Tampa General Hospital (TGH), which is an hour away from our home.  After 2 days of being in labor and it not subsiding, the Drs. discovered there was a tear in the placenta and it was leaking blood into the womb.  Jade had an emergency c-section and little Carter was born.

Even though he was 6 weeks early, Carter was healthy upon birth and all of his organs were fully developed.  While in the NICU for recovery and observation Carter began having some bradycardia episodes which kept him in the NICU for 34 days.  Every day we would make the hour drive up to see Carter and spend a few hours with him before making the return drive home, as both Savannah and I still had school obligations and responibilities.  Since returning home Carter is still being monitored by a cardiologist which is 45 minutes from our home.  He's had 2 holter monitors so far that revealed he is still having bradycardias, which is not normal for his age.  It is common in preemie babies but they usually grow out of it by the time they are term babies.  The cardiologist determined the bradycardias are not a heart condition and is now sending us to a gastroenterologist and a pulmonologist to see if some other issues might be causing them.

Our savings have been depleted and we are still acquiring further unexpected medical bills.  The money raised would be to pay our outstanding balances from the hospitals, the 34 day NICU stay, and the current specialists that Carter has been to and still needs to see.  Anything given is truly appreciated, no matter how small.  To be able to pay these new debts would be exceptionally helpful and relieve a lot of stress that our family is now emotionally and financially feeling.  Thank you again.  Your kindness really is appreciated and will be put to good use.