Pray for Eden (Single Ventricle Heart Warrior)
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Why are we raising funds?
Our daughter, Eden, lives with one ventricle (“half a heart”). What an amazing generation, when there is hopeful medical intervention for the first time, but the costs, in many ways, are overwhelming.
At birth, Eden’s Diagnosis was confirmed as Tricuspid Atresia (non-functional right ventricle) + Transposition of the Greater Arteries (TGA) + Coarctation of the Aorta.
Eden received the Norwood procedure at six days old and was given a BTT shunt, allowing her to survive until she became eligible for the Glenn procedure. During this first open-heart surgery, in addition to receiving the BTT shunt, Eden’s aortic arch was reconstructed, and her pulmonary artery was combined with her aorta.
In the Glenn, the shunt is removed entirely, and the superior vena cava is rerouted away from the heart and tied directly into the pulmonary artery, which passively moves blood from Eden’s upper body to her lungs for oxygen, allowing Eden to live more long-term with one heart pump, one ventricle.
After the Glenn, Eden will work on growing big enough to receive the Fontan procedure, likely becoming eligible around preschool. Whereas the Glenn focuses on the upper half of the body, the Fontan focuses on the lower half of the body.
The Norwood, Glenn, and Fontan are all open-heart surgeries, one of the most complex string of surgeries currently practiced in modern medicine. The end result allows all deoxygenated blood from the whole body to move directly to the lungs without passing through the right atrium.
Long-term outcomes vary greatly, and little data is available at this time beyond the Fontan, though some of the earliest single ventricle survivors are alive and thriving as young adults today.
Thank you for your support in joining us in caring for Eden.
Below are three great & easy ways to support us financially through this journey.
(Looking for our CaringBridge Blog for Updates?)
1. Option 1 - Cassie’s Work at The Antioch Partners
Our family entered a new season in 2023 and Cassie now raises 100% of her salary as she joins The Antioch Partners to help missionaries flourish longterm in their church-planting efforts so that the frontier of Christian mission continues to extend “to the ends of the earth.”
If you are interested in joining us in God’s mission in this way, please email us as we would love to mail you a packet of information. Your financial support is so helpful.
cassie [AT] theantiochpartners [DOT] org
You can also give directly to Cassie’s work at TAP here:
:: TAP Payment Options & Info: Direct Deposit (E-Checking, Zero Transfer Fees!), Major Credit Cards, Snail Mail Personal Checks (Zero Transfer Fees!)
TAX INFORMATION: For tax purposes, please note that giving to Cassie’s work within The Antioch Partners is a tax-deductible gift to TAP, whereas giving through GoFundMe is viewed as a Personal Gift for end-of-year tax purposes (no tax deductions with GoFundMe).
Additionally, giving through TAP allows funds to be evenly distributed across time, which is helpful to us as we apply for various grants and programs. Nothing is given in return for these gifts.
2. Option 2 - GoFundMe
:: GoFundMe Payment Options & Info: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo. Note: GoFundMe boasts one of the lowest fees among the Public Fundraising Platforms at 2.9%.
TAX INFORMATION: Donations via GoFundMe are viewed as Gifts (no tax deductions). Nothing is given in return for these gifts. [To receive a tax deduction for your gift, please view the TAP information (#1) above.]
3. Option 3 - Venmo
Do you already have a Venmo account fully established? You may prefer to send us funds via Venmo! For smaller donations, including sending us to go get some dinner, this may be the easiest option.
Michael Thornton
@Michael-Thornton-022
(Profile Pic of me and Cassie)
Last 4 Phone Confirmation = 9126
TAX INFORMATION: Donations via GoFundMe are viewed as Gifts (no tax deductions). Nothing is given in return for these gifts.
Finally, we give all thanks and glory to God who is holding us, leading us, and sustaining us. He alone is the author and sustainer of life forevermore.
Your kindness overwhelms and helps and encourages us. Bless you.
Love,
Michael and Cassie
Organizer
Michael Thornton
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO