Desmond's Healing Journey

Hello friends! I am posting this on behalf of the Heinz family!

As many of you know, a little over a year ago, Desmond stopped eating and would be frozen like a statue in whatever position we left him in. After months of many visits to the local ER, doctors, various therapists, and a 30 lb weight drop, we ended up at Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with Catatonia. Catatonia is a rare but very serious mental health condition that we believe was caused by a medication-induced severe depression. Many people can recover from Catatonia with medication, but generally need medication accompanied by ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy). Desmond has been on the medication for about a year with minimal improvement. Due to Desmond's age and Colorado state law, ECT is not an option. Along with his doctors and psychiatrists, we've decided that as an alternative, TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) would potentially heal the depression that has caused his Catatonia. This is 5 weeks of therapy, 5 days a week. Unfortunately, in Colorado, Medicaid will not pay for this FDA-approved treatment. Since we have to pay out of pocket, they've given a lower cost of $6,475. The payment plan is $720 a week. For a special needs family surviving on only one income in these difficult financial times, it's just unaffordable. Some friends recommended I put our Cash App info out for people who may be able to help us with the cost. I understand that with the high cost of living we're all experiencing, this is a big ask, so only do what you can, and if you can't, we love you anyway. Thanks, everyone!

In addition to that, we will be traveling to Denver at the end of the month for a surgery to replace his NG-Tube with a G-Tube. We are hoping that change might help Des make progress with swallowing and speaking, and also not have to constantly go through the uncomfortable process of replacing the NG-Tube. Last year, we checked into the hospital on his birthday and ended up staying for a month. This year, we'll be checking out on his birthday. Luckily, we should only need to stay for 2 days this time. My beautiful boy can't seem to catch a break, but despite it all, he still has such a silly sense of humor.

Any leftover money will go to the family for costs of gas, food, and travel expenses.