Meet Joan (Jo-han)
A few days after his birth, Joan started to struggle to breathe, his heart was racing and his abdomen was rising and falling at an extremely rapid rate. Joan was rushed to the hospital, stayed for a week and subsequently was in and out of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit several times over the next few weeks. After one more visit to the local emergency room, he was transferred by ambulance to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles where he stayed for 3 months. He was diagnosed with pseudohypoaldosteronism, a disease that causes salt retention and impaired excretion of potassium and acid, leading to high blood pressure, hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium), and metabolic acidosis. A few weeks later he was admitted to Cottage Children’s Medical Center for another month. Unfortunately, for Joan and his family, he has been in the hospital more than he has been at home.
The anxiety that Joan’s family is suffering is understandably high. They cannot predict when or how his body will react to the endocrine imbalance that can cause breathing and heart complications. Traveling back and forth to the hospital in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara has been a burden on their finances. Joan’s mom has not been able to work as she balances traveling to the hospitals, medical appointments, and also caring for Joan’s 3-year old brother.
With donations from our supporters, Hearts Aligned has helped this family with grocery cards, diapers, gas cards and some furniture for their room. We continue to work with them as they navigate life with an ill child.
Thank you to our donors that have helped this wonderful family! We are receiving many referrals from our medical partners and with your help, we can help these families.