
The Matthews Family
Our Story
Olivia Claire was born 09/27/2021 with a lack of oxygen causing ischemia on her brain and hypotonia throughout her entire body. This caused her to not latch, suck and swallow properly until 12 weeks of age, even then she would take 2 hours to finish a bottle. At 6 months of age she suffered a TBI after an accident with her father. She spent a month in the hospital, was on a ventilator for 2.5 weeks and had two surgeries while inpatient. She had a brain drain to drain the subdural hematoma and a g tube placed upon ex-tubation after she was unable to latch and suck at all for feeds. She suffered seizures, retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and brain atrophy as well. She was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy from the amount of damage done to her brain. It is uncertain was this condition will be like ongoing for her life. CP effects every individual vastly different than the next. It is common for speech, feeding, walking, and cognitive function to be inhibited or to become fully disabled for life with a cerebral palsy diagnosis. Currently her father and I have lost our jobs; while he has found a part-time job, it is financially taxing with the medical bills steadily pouring in. It would be a miraculous help having them taken care of entirely or even just reduced in some fashion. I am unable to work due to Olivia's many doctor appointments and extremely intricate personal care needs. Olivia is currently in therapy for PT and awaiting OT, SLT and feeding therapy to begin once Medicaid can be approved. Due to our initial income, we were placed on a share of cost Medicaid that we are currently awaiting an appeal hearing for. Any and all help would be graciously accepted and help out family deeply. We are unable to afford our mortgage payment and would benefit from the help in keeping our home for our daughters. Thank you to all who have supported us emotionally as well as financially.