Healing Charlotte's Heart

On June 14th, the Watczak family’s perfectly normal summer took an unexpected turn. After an afternoon of playing with her cousins at their grandparent's house, Charlotte came home and could not walk. Bearing any weight on her little legs was enough to bring her to tears. The pain started so suddenly that Jori and Chad had no idea what it could be. Charlotte soon developed a rash & fever, so Jori and Chad knew they had to bring her to the doctor. These symptoms began a month-long search for a diagnosis. They were in and out of the ER and clinic while Charlotte’s body suffered from high fevers, joint pain, fatigue, and rashes. By July 5th, she had rapid heart rate and shallow breathing added to her list of symptoms, so she was admitted to the hospital in Duluth. She underwent multiple tests and blood work but still, no diagnosis was found.



The hospital in Duluth referred Charlotte to the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Children’s Hospital (MCH) to help get a diagnosis. That one appointment quickly and unexpectedly became an admission to the MCH Cardiac ICU, because they found that Charlotte’s tiny heart had been severely damaged and was leaking ("regurgitating.")



They ended up staying at MCH for a grueling week of worry, prayers, and no real answers. Charlotte had multiple chest X-rays, EKGs, Echocardiograms, blood tests, and many tears. Jori and Chad met with doctors from Rheumatology, Infectious Disease, and Cardiology. No one knew what was causing Charlotte’s heart damage or her other symptoms, until finally, one of her blood panels showed an old strain of strep. This gave the doctors what they needed to give her a diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever.


The doctors at MCH immediately started Charlotte on multiple medications to help her heart and to fight the Rheumatic Fever. When they felt that she was stable and her heart rate was under control, Charlotte was discharged and able to go home to Duluth.


When Jori and Chad brought Charlotte back to MCH a week later for a scheduled check-up, the tests found that some of her symptoms were returning, so she was again admitted to MCH. Charlotte happened to be one of the few special people who had a “rebound of rheumatic fever,” which means even more damage was done to her precious heart. This week in the hospital was spent doing even more testing and increasing Charlotte’s medications to find the right dosage.

Charlotte is now home again. She is on extended steroids, penicillin, and a few other medications. She continues to have clinic visits at MCH to monitor her injured heart. The goal is to have her heart repair itself with the help of the medications, but the doctors have stated a low probability of that happening. This means that open-heart surgery is more than likely the ultimate outcome to make the needed repairs.



As you can imagine, neither Jori nor Chad saw this coming. Chad is a self-employed Realtor. Jori has made a beautiful home for their family and does an extraordinary job caring for their daughters, including Louise, who has special needs and difficulties with her own health.

The Watczak's health care coverage is less than awesome. Charlotte's medical bills have been rolling in and are completely overwhelming, especially to their bank account. There are still more EKGs, Echocardiograms, and blood work, and medications to come, as well as the probable open-heart surgery.

The Watczak’s are so beloved by everyone who know them; let's band together to help raise money for this wonderful family! Even if you can only give a little, it will all add up with everyone doing so.


Sweet Charlotte and the rest of the Watczaks have been blanketed in prayers all summer and they are so thankful for this unending support. Let’s trust God to also provide for their financial needs! Thank you so very much for your support, prayers, and encouragement that keep this little girl smiling!