Welcome to HelpCarter.org

Little Carter Maxwell was born on June 7, 2007 at Reid Hospital in Richmond Indiana and has spent all but four days since he has been born at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis Indiana where he is currently being treated . He cannot eat on his own and must be fed through a feeding tube. Since his birth one lung has collapsed two times.

Carter’s family, friends, and extended families are rallying to his parents’ side in support. There are many ways for you to get involved and help in supporting the family. Please visit this site often to get the latest on Carter’s progress and ways for you to financially support his family in paying his mounting medical bills.

 Carter has been diagnosed with several conditions. First, he has brain damage to his corpus collasum. The Dr.’s tell us that this is the effect of him lacking oxygen for so long when Sierra, Carter’s mother, was in labor. After he was born, he required oxygen as well, because his right lung collapsed. When the corpus collasum is damaged, it's kind of a waiting game, but for carter, we are already getting a preview of what is to come. He is on Phenobarbital, for epileptic seizures as of last week. So far they seem to be helping and we haven't had an episode for some time

He is also on a sleep apnea monitor as he stops breathing in his sleep. It was hoped that it was just in his sleep until last week, when he had an episode of not breathing while awake. He has a machine that records everything, and can be downloaded at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis Indiana. He will be monitored very closely and continue to have sleep studies repeated.

Carter also has very low muscle tone, which again is very characteristic of this disease. He can't hold his head up, at all, and all of his limbs are very floppy. This is an indication of cerebral palsy. We will begin home therapy with Carter sometime next week, to try to help him build up strength.

Carter doesn't eat for himself either. He has a tube in his nose, and each 3 hours we get up to feed him. It takes about an hour to feed sometimes more. The process is repeated every 3 hours around the clock.

He has three defects in his heart, but the Dr's think those will hopefully clear up on their own. Out of the three only one appears to be something that MAY not heal. At this juncture, this seems to be the least of our worries.

His stomach and digestive system are also affected. He has a very difficult time going to the bathroom. We are trying to treat this with laxatives added to his bottle, and he takes lactose soy formula as well. However, the medication they are giving him for his seizures compound his problem, so sometimes we feel like we are chasing our tail. If this continues with Carter, they will look at his GI system closer. He isn't gaining weight as quickly as he should, so there is a concern that there may be an additional metabolic disorder as well. They have done a test for the phox2b gene, which is very rare. This is diagnosed in only 250 kids each year. Right now we are just waiting to get the results, which take about 3 weeks. They were sent to Chicago.

He has only been home for 4 days since his birth on June 7th. They tell us at Riley that he will be a Riley kid for sure. The staff there is wonderful. They have all embraced young Carter as he is so helpless and suffering so much. We know he is where he needs to be with them. They are truly angels on our earth.

When he gets out of Riley, he will go approximately three times a week to be monitored. Each team of Dr's will watch him very closely, as we are still waiting to see if other parts of his body are affected. Because he is so small,

He is under the care of Pulmonary, Cardiology, Developmental, Neurology, and Genetic and Metabolic specialists.

Sierra has not left his side. She keeps a vigil by his bedside and insists on doing everything herself. The Dr's have all commented on how mature she was for 19 years old, and that she has literally been the talk of the hospital. Had she not thought so quickly, the very first time Carter was admitted to the hospital, we might not know what we are dealing with. He had an episode of sleep apnea, and she quickly taped it on her camera phone to take to the Emergency room and show the Dr's. They were very impressed with her quick thinking. She gets up every night, even though the nurses have told her they can do it for her, and to get rest.

Her husband Jay helps Sierra pull the night shift. Carter's feedings take so long, that it sometimes takes 1 1/2 hours to get his feedings done. Jay feeds and Sierra keeps Jay awake or holds the feeding tube. It's a team effort. He has been traveling back and forth every day, or every other day, to take care of the house and animals.

They are both very devoted parents. It is rare to see 19 year olds mature enough to handle the special needs of a sick child such as Carter.

While Carter is not completely healthy as we all had hoped. He is loved so very much. He is here to teach us all a lesson. We believe God gave him to us, because he knew that we could love him, and take care of him. We have so much support from family and friends it has been overwhelming. We can't thank everyone enough.