Hi, my name is Debi and I am raising funds for my daughter Angela Russell's family for medical expenses for her youngest son, Quade.
Right after their 4th of July celebration, Quade became ill. A pediatrician appointment determined it was a viral infection (Fifth disease) and they were told to keep him hydrated until it passed. After a follow-up pediatrician appointment due to his not getting better he was sent to the ER where he tested positive for another virus (Enterovirus). They gave him fluids and sent him home with an inhaler, anti-nausea medicines and antibiotics. The following week they took him back to the pediatrician with vomiting, weakness and grunting. He had lost 10 pounds and could not keep anything down. She sent him to another hospital's ER where a chest x-ray showed his heart was enlarged and there was fluid build-up around his heart. They immediately sent him by ambulance to Children's Mercy in Kansas City (2 1/2 hours away) and tests there showed his heart was only functioning at 25%; he had viral myocarditis and was in heart failure. He spent the next week in the cardiac ICU on a ventilator (paralyzed) to help his heart heal and another week in cardiac recovery. He came home on 6 medications and a heart function of 30%. Then two weeks later he woke up vomiting nonstop and at the ER his blood markers were showing signs of a heart attack, so he was taken back to Children's Mercy by helicopter this time for another stay. It has been one month and no improvements. They have started working with the Advanced Cardiac Therapy and Transplant Team at Children's Mercy and they just started another new medicine to try and stimulate healing. We are praying and praying that his little heart will heal. It is every parent's worst nightmare to have their child get sicker and sicker and not be able to fix it.
They don't know if his heart will be able to function with medication or if a heart transplant is in his future. The medical bills are going to keep coming in addition to time needed off work for regular trips to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. It's hard to care about bills when you just want your baby to get well, but they have to try and keep up.
Your donations will be used for all his medical expenses that are not covered by insurance, prescription costs for his many medications and expenses for regular trips to Children's Mercy for treatment. Thank you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers we appreciate each and every one of you!