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This page has been started to help support some of the most caring and wonderful people we know. The Chisholm's have had the wonders of having a beautiful baby boy (Bennett), but he has been given some obstacles early on in his young life. Here is his latest story and the uphill battle he and his family will be facing. They are amazingly strong and compassionate people. Please read on and support in anyway possible.
Bennett has a very complex and rare heart defect caused by an genetic abnormality, which occurs with no rhyme or reason. As the doctor put it, we were just incredibly unlucky. Bennett will need the first of two heart surgeries at 5-10 months of age. The second heart surgery will follow sometime shortly after. The doctors expect that he will need follow up catheter procedures throughout his life to make adjustments. His heart will be pumping with only a single ventricle due to its anatomy, so the surgical procedures are just allowing him to live off of what he has been given. It is possible that he will need a heart transplant at some point in his life.
There is also an asymmetrical arrangement to his other organs (heterotaxy syndrome), which commonly occurs along with his particular type of heart defect. His intestines are a bit twisted and he will need surgery to fix them at some point. The doctors are waiting to see if he continues to tolerate his feeds before he can go home. It is important that he continues to want to eat and that we do not see any signs of intestinal blockage.
His spleen is in pieces around his body, so it is non-functional. He will need to take a low dose of antibiotics everyday for the rest of his life to help him fight infection. They also recommended not letting anyone with signs of illness around him in this infant period.
He is such a beautiful, sweet boy, it is hard to believe he has these problems because he looks so healthy from the outside. We are thankful to have such a great team of doctors and nurses. He is in great hands.
Due to the unknowns, the goals will be adjusted as we find out more about the family's needs. Also, please keep checking back as updates will be provided for all as more information becomes available. Thank you all for all of your support!!
Bennett has a very complex and rare heart defect caused by an genetic abnormality, which occurs with no rhyme or reason. As the doctor put it, we were just incredibly unlucky. Bennett will need the first of two heart surgeries at 5-10 months of age. The second heart surgery will follow sometime shortly after. The doctors expect that he will need follow up catheter procedures throughout his life to make adjustments. His heart will be pumping with only a single ventricle due to its anatomy, so the surgical procedures are just allowing him to live off of what he has been given. It is possible that he will need a heart transplant at some point in his life.
There is also an asymmetrical arrangement to his other organs (heterotaxy syndrome), which commonly occurs along with his particular type of heart defect. His intestines are a bit twisted and he will need surgery to fix them at some point. The doctors are waiting to see if he continues to tolerate his feeds before he can go home. It is important that he continues to want to eat and that we do not see any signs of intestinal blockage.
His spleen is in pieces around his body, so it is non-functional. He will need to take a low dose of antibiotics everyday for the rest of his life to help him fight infection. They also recommended not letting anyone with signs of illness around him in this infant period.
He is such a beautiful, sweet boy, it is hard to believe he has these problems because he looks so healthy from the outside. We are thankful to have such a great team of doctors and nurses. He is in great hands.
Due to the unknowns, the goals will be adjusted as we find out more about the family's needs. Also, please keep checking back as updates will be provided for all as more information becomes available. Thank you all for all of your support!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Justin Chisholm
Beneficiary