Everett's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
All, I am Jarrod McSherry (Everett's father) and I created this gofundme account under advice from many of our close family and friends. My goal is to raise enough money to help with Everett's medical bills, treatments, and on going care that will be needed for his entire life.
April 14, 2015.....My wife and I were so excited to find out the sex of our second child at our anatomy screening! We sat in the darkened room (I was on the edge of my seat and was waiting for the news so I could tell our oldest son if he was having a brother or sister) and we watched the technician take measurements and finally the sex of the fetus. IT'S A BOY! How amazing it was to have that news! But the technician kept taking measurements and moving back and forth between blood flow screens and focusing on the heart. We were expecting to leave, but found ourselves still there 45 minutes after the sex was revealed. Finally, the tech told us she was finished and that a doctor would need to see us. My heart sank knowing that there was a problem as none of our other sonograms were this long. The doctor came in and dropped a bombshell on us that no parent would ever want to hear. Our unborn son had a very serious and life threatening heart defect that would not allow blood to flow to his lungs and would deprive his body of oxygen after he was born. Left untreated, he would die within hours/days of his birth. The option for abortion was presented and quickly shot down. We were determined to have this beautiful boy and would count ourselves blessed for any and all time he would spend with us.
The next day, my wife went to work and was delivered another blow. She was losing her job and along with it, our medical insurance coverage! I managed to gain coverage at my employer but not before several medical appointments had taken place and of course, were not covered. My wife found employment several weeks later and we began to cope with the gravity of our son's medical issues.
A few months passed and my wife had to move over 2 hours away in order to be closer to the Childrens Hospital Of Philadelphia where Everett was to be born. Our local hospitals could not handle his heart treatments and needs after he was born so we needed to be delivered in Philadelphia. My wife lived with a friend, while I was at home working and taking care of our other son.
Everett was born at the beginning of August and within seconds of being delivered was rushed into an ajoining room where he was given life saving drugs to keep his heart beating and his blood circulating. We saw him for 3 seconds. My wife held him for what seemed like a flash and then he was taken from the room to stabalize him. His second day of life began with an early morning meeting from doctors and nurses telling us about the severity of his condition and what the course for his treatment would be. Minutes later, he was taken from his POD and wheeled down the hallway into the ER. His first open heart surgery was underway. And we were left teary eyed and overwhelmed about how a tiny boy only days old, could already have us worried sick for his future.
Hours later, the surgeon came to the consult room and told us all was well and that Everett had made it through perfectly fine. I had been awake for over 30 hours (coming directly from a 12 hour work shift and a 2.5 hour drive to be present in time to see him before he went in for surgery) and I broke down. Granted, i had been through MANY things in my life....but this was by far the most trying!
After his recovery from surgery I could finally bring my wife and new son home to our new home we had just moved into a couple months before.....that's right....new baby, new home, and a new job for my wife all in a few months.
January, 2016. Everett was back in CHOP waiting for another open heart surgery (the second of four he will need). Once again Everett came through with flying colors! He is only 6 months old but he has conquered 2 open heart surgeries, heart cath procedures, been on a heart and lung machine, and has spent half of his life in hospitals and on restrictions. He has every right to be cranky and sad but he is not. He is anything but! He smiles everyday! He laughs, he plays, and he brings a smile to everyone's face he meets.
My goal is to raise enough cash to cover SOME of the medical bills we face. We have always helped ourselves and others, but now we rely on the help OF others. Everett's medical bills are skyrocketing and our insurance covers very little. We currently owe $350,000 for his first heart surgery alone. This is of course, after insurance has paid their share. If you should choose to help us by donating, we would like to thank you in advance and offer you our highest grattitude! We know that not everyone can afford to donate to Everett's cause, and that is fine too! Just please take the time to send a prayer for him, to help him and our family during our time of need. Thank you for your time and God bless!
April 14, 2015.....My wife and I were so excited to find out the sex of our second child at our anatomy screening! We sat in the darkened room (I was on the edge of my seat and was waiting for the news so I could tell our oldest son if he was having a brother or sister) and we watched the technician take measurements and finally the sex of the fetus. IT'S A BOY! How amazing it was to have that news! But the technician kept taking measurements and moving back and forth between blood flow screens and focusing on the heart. We were expecting to leave, but found ourselves still there 45 minutes after the sex was revealed. Finally, the tech told us she was finished and that a doctor would need to see us. My heart sank knowing that there was a problem as none of our other sonograms were this long. The doctor came in and dropped a bombshell on us that no parent would ever want to hear. Our unborn son had a very serious and life threatening heart defect that would not allow blood to flow to his lungs and would deprive his body of oxygen after he was born. Left untreated, he would die within hours/days of his birth. The option for abortion was presented and quickly shot down. We were determined to have this beautiful boy and would count ourselves blessed for any and all time he would spend with us.
The next day, my wife went to work and was delivered another blow. She was losing her job and along with it, our medical insurance coverage! I managed to gain coverage at my employer but not before several medical appointments had taken place and of course, were not covered. My wife found employment several weeks later and we began to cope with the gravity of our son's medical issues.
A few months passed and my wife had to move over 2 hours away in order to be closer to the Childrens Hospital Of Philadelphia where Everett was to be born. Our local hospitals could not handle his heart treatments and needs after he was born so we needed to be delivered in Philadelphia. My wife lived with a friend, while I was at home working and taking care of our other son.
Everett was born at the beginning of August and within seconds of being delivered was rushed into an ajoining room where he was given life saving drugs to keep his heart beating and his blood circulating. We saw him for 3 seconds. My wife held him for what seemed like a flash and then he was taken from the room to stabalize him. His second day of life began with an early morning meeting from doctors and nurses telling us about the severity of his condition and what the course for his treatment would be. Minutes later, he was taken from his POD and wheeled down the hallway into the ER. His first open heart surgery was underway. And we were left teary eyed and overwhelmed about how a tiny boy only days old, could already have us worried sick for his future.
Hours later, the surgeon came to the consult room and told us all was well and that Everett had made it through perfectly fine. I had been awake for over 30 hours (coming directly from a 12 hour work shift and a 2.5 hour drive to be present in time to see him before he went in for surgery) and I broke down. Granted, i had been through MANY things in my life....but this was by far the most trying!
After his recovery from surgery I could finally bring my wife and new son home to our new home we had just moved into a couple months before.....that's right....new baby, new home, and a new job for my wife all in a few months.
January, 2016. Everett was back in CHOP waiting for another open heart surgery (the second of four he will need). Once again Everett came through with flying colors! He is only 6 months old but he has conquered 2 open heart surgeries, heart cath procedures, been on a heart and lung machine, and has spent half of his life in hospitals and on restrictions. He has every right to be cranky and sad but he is not. He is anything but! He smiles everyday! He laughs, he plays, and he brings a smile to everyone's face he meets.
My goal is to raise enough cash to cover SOME of the medical bills we face. We have always helped ourselves and others, but now we rely on the help OF others. Everett's medical bills are skyrocketing and our insurance covers very little. We currently owe $350,000 for his first heart surgery alone. This is of course, after insurance has paid their share. If you should choose to help us by donating, we would like to thank you in advance and offer you our highest grattitude! We know that not everyone can afford to donate to Everett's cause, and that is fine too! Just please take the time to send a prayer for him, to help him and our family during our time of need. Thank you for your time and God bless!
Organizer
Jarrod Mcsherry
Organizer
York, PA