Help Dawson Heal and Ease Financial Strain

Hello, my name is April Ashcraft, and I am the sole provider and care giver of 2 teenage kids, Dawson and Raelynne.

On January 31, 2025, we were at my nieces 5th birthday party at a trampoline park and Dawson broke both his tibia and fibula in his left leg. He was transported to Ruby Memorial by ambulance where the staff tried to reset the bones manually and were unsuccessful. After extensive hours in the er, we was placed in a room and a few short hours later prepped for surgery. They placed a rod and 4 pins into the tibia and left the fibula to heal as it’s only 2% weight bearing and can heal on its own. There was minor set backs in both the er and during surgery but all ended well with a successful surgery. Dawson was monitored for the night and released February 2. On Wednesday evening (post surgery), the dressings were removed from his leg as instructed by his surgical team per take home instructions. At that time things were “looking” phenomenal but I had concerns so I called the surgeon for reassurance. By Thursday evening he was experiencing a great deal of pain in his ankle and had little swelling. Friday we monitored the ankle since it wasn’t warm and he wasn’t fevered. By Saturday around 2pm Dawson woke from a nap and when I checked his ankle it was hot so we brought him back to Ruby. He has been admitted again for cellulitis but unclear of the severity of it. They are running around the clock iv antibiotics and checking his blood. Best case scenario is he will get oral antibiotics, if not we are looking at another surgery to scrape the infection out of the joint of his ankle and that could mean the metal is in potential of being contaminated. That is worst case scenario and something we are praying hard doesn’t happen. We are hoping to have answers Monday morning.

Obviously, no one expects things like this to happen and unfortunately for me it could not have happened at a worse time. I work full time but have exhausted my PO and Vacation time. Because I work for a small business family medical leave is not offered. I have been granted time to care for Dawson but I will not be receiving pay. My boyfriend is currently unemployed due to being laid off and between his crappy unemployment and my income we are in a huge financial mishap let alone the cost of now traveling more than 50 miles 1 way to and from the hospital, gas alone is costly and adding the price to eat has already taken a chunk of my finances. Future appts to ruby and physical therapy leads us to a long road to recovery, but somehow I have to make it work. I have a younger daughter at home who also needs me so I have no choice but to travel back and forth. She is only 13 and can not be in the hospital to see her brother (due to their flu season rules) so she is having to stay with family while I’m here.

I never would have imagined that something as simple as a broken leg could leave me so financially vulnerable but it has. The uncertainty moving forward is adding to the stress and the worry of finances isn’t anything any parent should have to worry about when praying for their babies to heal. I never in a million years would have thought I would one day be asking for peoples help but sometimes life throws us curve balls we cannot foresee. If you can help in any way, we would be more than appreciative, and so thankful. Anything is better than nothing and if you can’t I ask that you please say a prayer for my boy as he heals and that we get good news. Say a prayer for my girl while she sits the sidelines from a family members house when all she really wants is to be by her mom and brothers side.

Update on Dawson:

Dawsons blood work finally came down enough that they were comfortable enough to put him on oral antibiotics. They feel at the time surgery wouldn’t be needed unless the oral antibiotics don’t work. Ruby’s peds team came to the room and talked to us about Dawson’s high bp and if there is family history of it. (Which there is on both mom and dad side.) Dawson’s kidneys levels are also elevated and they are worried about the function of his kidneys and whether the high bp is affecting the kidneys or if the kidneys are affecting the bp. He was seen by a nephrologist who talked about keeping him for a few more days and running meds but wanted to order more blood work, a urine, and get an ultrasound of his heart. The ultrasound looked normal but Dawson’s urine was still elevated in some areas. They are going to discharge us but we have to come back to Morgantown to follow up with nephrologist now too. I ask that you just keep my boy in your thoughts and prayers and ask God to place his healing hands on him. More doctors more visits but we will do what it takes.