Jordan's Medical expenses


The Beginnings:

Jordan has had an eventful life.  This is Jordan with his Brother and Sister. His brother says he's a fighter.

Jordan was born with a heart condition "Tetrology of Fallott - with an absent pulmonary valve".  This meant he had multiple holes in his heart, the right side of his heart was enlarged, and his pulmonary valve was missing.

When he was born he was immediately flown to Dallas. After about 2 weeks he was allowed to go home.  He grew a little and got a little stronger until he was 7 months old and went back to Dallas for the first heart valve surgery(1998).  

This homograph lasted him for about 7 years and started leaking.   We went back to Dallas where they did the second open heart surgery and replaced the valve with a bovine valve(2005).

After about 7 more years this one started leaking, which led to his third Heart valve replacement(2012).  This time they were able to do all of the work thru a heart cath.  They inserted a melody valve into the pulmonary artery.  We were saying that after the melody valve he had a song in his heart.


Recent Events:

Jordan got sick with headache, fevers, stomach pain and weakness at the end of August 2017.  His primary care gave him shots that helped for about a day.  Next urgent care checked him out and said he had a virus.  Out of concern of dehydration West took him to the ER.  They quickly took Jordan back and started IV's and started taking samples to figure out what was going on.  

ER eventually admitted him to the hospital ICU.  ICU eventually airlifted him to Dallas. 

After all the tests and observations the doctors have concluded that he has an overall STAPH blood infection (luckily not resistant to antbiotics).  The infection's source is  the Melody valve. which is also leaking like the previous 2 valves.  



The infection has caused his gall bladder to become inflamed and be very painful, with multiple digestive issues.  Our local hospital had identified this and there was initially some questions as to if the infection from from the valve or the gall bladder.  Further images have proven there was visible infectious growth on the valve. 

In addition, since his hospitalizations he has developed a blood clot in his lungs and they have found bacterial infections there as well.  

Due to the rapid rate of growth in the infection, how it is slow to respond to medicine, and the fear of it spreading to other organs the doctors have decided surgery is needed.

Surgery details are still being finalized.  What we do know is that it will include open heart, requiring the breaking of his sternum and the use of a heart bypass machine which will  require blood donations.  

According to previous experience Jordan's time in the hospital could last about two or more weeks.  Home recovery will take a while as you would expect for such a procedure.  During this time he will not be able to work and will need assistance in daily tasks.


This is how the $20,000 breaks out (updated 10/8):

Our out of pocket maximum from insurance is $6,000.

We were in the Amarillo hospital for two days. We've now been in Dallas for a month, most of that time in the ICU, and there is no set discharge date. The doctors are talking about doing the gall bladder surgery here in Dallas which will be in addition to time recovering from heart surgery. Once he is discharged we will need to stay in the area for a week for follow up appointments.

We have no way of estimating the medical costs that will exceed our insurance. We are working on getting SSI but we don't know how much that will pay, or when.

Initially we had to pay $500 for boarding our dogs when we came to Dallas but now our community is coordinating care for them, in our home, for free.

We have been able to get into the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas which asks for a $15 a day donation for room and three meals a day.

As we are caring for Jordan there are times we can't eat at the house so we get a hospital tray for $8/person.

Hospital parking is $20 a week.

We also have lost income on the days West is unable to work.

These are our known expenses at this time.

Below is one of Jordan's IV trees.


As a family, Jordan's well-being is our highest concern, but nothing happens in a void, and everything has a cost.

 We have a small savings but with the loss of income during this time the savings is small compared to the need.  

We can refer back to previous surgeries, but this time the surgery is complicated by the infection and his overall weakened condition going into surgery.

Your prayers and generousity are greatly appreciated.