Cheering for Charlie-Help Him Fight a Rare Medical Condition

Help Sweet Charlie as He Fights a Rare Medical Condition

Just before Memorial Day, a routine day turned into a nightmare for eight-month-old Charlie’s family. It started when his daycare teacher noticed an unusual lump under his arm. After hours of MRIs and medical assessments, a massive axillary aneurysm was discovered. This condition is often termed a “silent killer” due to its potential to burst and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. The diagnosis was particularly shocking given the condition is almost unheard of in an infant like Charlie.

After consulting with one of the top pediatric vascular surgeons in the country, immediate surgery was deemed necessary. Without surgical intervention, little Charlie was at imminent risk for losing his limb or even his life.

Determined to protect their son, Charlie’s family flew him across the country to ensure he received the best care possible. After spending over eight hours in intensive surgery, Charlie is now healing.

Despite the successful surgery, the family’s ordeal is far from over. Many unknowns still loom as his medical team strives to understand what caused his aneurysm and what his future care entails. The best guess from his team is a rare large vessel vasculitis. Treatment for this would include infusions, oral medications and routine MRIs to monitor the disease.

Charlie’s insurance provider has also deemed his hospital stays and some procedures “not medically necessary,” refusing to cover the life-saving measures even though his medical team confirmed the high risk level. This denial has left the family potentially facing over a hundred thousand dollars in medical bills.

Adding to the financial strain, Charlie’s mother has had to miss work to provide round-the-clock care for him, and the costs continue to rise. Expenses for travel to see his pediatric surgeon, for ongoing treatments, and for medications for what might be a life-long battle with vasculitis (a condition where inflamed blood vessels can result in organ and tissue damage) are mounting.

As a close friend of Charlie’s family, I am writing this on their behalf. They are emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted, yet their love for their precious son drives them to continue doing everything possible to ensure he receives the best care. They are appealing the insurance decisions, but the financial burden is overwhelming.

How You Can Help

Your support can make a world of difference for Charlie and his family. Donations will go directly towards:

Every little bit helps, and together we can give Charlie the best chance at a healthy future. Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with your friends and family.

Thank you for Cheering for Charlie!