Help with Baby Levon’s Medical Bills

Hi, my name is Bethany Ellis and I am fundraising/prayer-raising for my Godson’s medical care and healing. Maura and Michael Corvasce’s 6 week old little boy, Levon Patrick, has been on a wild ride the last few weeks.  At only 3 weeks on May 11th, he presented with what appeared to be a cold. On the 16th it seemed to have dropped to his chest and he was taken to the pediatrician where he had a false positive test for RSV, was prescribed a nebulizer treatment, and sent home. Later that day his symptoms worsened and he became severely dehydrated. They took him to the ER where he went into respiratory arrest. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and a partial lung collapse. On the 17th he was intubated and air-lifted from Monmouth Medical Center to CHOP. On the 18th he received his second spinal tap to rule out meningitis and sepsis. On the 19th he was baptized and I became God-momma to the second of the two Corvasce boys via FaceTime. On the 20th he showed some progress in his xrays and they came to the conclusion that he had a viral bronchiolitis infection which turned to pneumonia/respiratory failure leading to sepsis. Because antibiotics had been given early on out of an abundance of caution, the infection seemed to have cleared. At 4am on May 21st Lee was extubated. Later that night he was put on high flow oxygen due to respiratory distress. After the extubation he experienced withdrawals from the pain medication with tremors. He went through chest PT each day for muscle tightness due to favoring his one side and agitation from coming off the meds. On the 23rd they thought he may need to be intubated again, but a rescue dose of morphine and big prayers calmed and helped to stabilize him. While all this happened they moved from PICU to the Pediatric floor, and then to the NICU as Maura advocated for the best possible care for Lee. After sleeping in the hospital since May 16th, Maura was placed in a Ronald McDonald House apartment close to the hospital on May 25th. They started trying to rule out bowel obstruction as in the previous 24 hours it seemed to have been making his respiratory issues worse. They had a possible diagnosis of Hirschsprung Disease and performed a biopsy to diagnose. On the 27th they found out he tested negative, which was a blessing, as that was a worst case scenario that would have required surgery. On the 29th he was given glycerin to help things along, as he had not passed stool since the 24th. On the he then passed a bloody, concerning stool. They then did a full work-up to try and rule out intussusception. On the 30th it was diagnosed as 100% intussusception, which is extremely rare, and usually presents itself a week or so after a viral illness.

Interestingly enough, they usually use a barium enema as a treatment for intussusception before they perform surgery to see if that corrects it first, which he previously had to rule out the original thought of Hirschsprung’s disease. So on the 29th, after four days of no imaging intussusception wasn’t presenting itself on films MOST LIKELY because the barium enema he had, actually RESOLVED the intussusception before it was even on their radar (miracle).

During rounds on the 30th they confirmed that is what was causing his discomfort, dilated bowels etc. after the poop he had the 29th (bloody, jelly like) and his belly was less distended and he’s so much more comfortable. They will monitor his next stools (hasn’t pooped since still) to make sure it hasn’t presented itself again and make sure no there are signs of oncoming infection.

Hemoglobin levels are low— which is common with this diagnosis and expressing of blood in stool, possible blood transfusion to be done, but will recheck in the evening to see how his levels are. Maura gets to breast feed him today and see how he tolerates his feeds. He seems to have turned a corner and they are hopeful that they are on the road to recovery.

Lee’s most likely to come off respiratory support the 31st, but still weaning from the morphine post extubation. They are still looking at a little more time in the NICU until they are moved to pediatrics again, where he can feed and grow and get back to his weight.

As I sit here in the car on our way back from my in-laws house in WV, I am in the back seat, pumping, writing this and staring at my sleeping nearly 5 month old. I am so grateful for his good health and so prayerful for the return of my best friend Maura’s little boy’s, my God-son’s, good health.

While Levon’s condition is improving, the Corvasce’s appreciate your continued prayers and support. Their medical bills for little Lee will be extensive. Please reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have. We are grateful for any help and prayers to support little Lee and his family in this tough time.