A Chance for Chase

It started as a normal Saturday morning when 2 year old Chase climbed over a wall to get past the child gate. After climbing through a dog door into the back yard, he fell into the pool.

He was pulled from the pool by his father who began CPR and then transported him to the local Urgent Care. Resuscitation efforts continued until his heart beat again, and he was rushed to Banner Desert Medical facility. 

  In Banner’s PICU unit Chase’s body began its phenomenal recovery process, and before the day was out his lungs and other vital organs had started working again. For the next 3 days Chase was sedated while they eased his body back into working fully on its own again. 

After he was taken off the respirator, the sedatives were slowly removed from his system and on day 4 he began to regain consciousness.  During this process, Chase started displaying symptoms of severe brain damage such as posturing and having seizures. Chase was given multiple EEG’s and a CAT scan, but none of them indicated any damage symptomatic of loss of higher brain function. 

After extensive research by the medical staff and his father, it was decided to get more tests done and at day 12 he received a full spectrum MRI. Acute, but not complete, damage was found in the area of his brain that allows his mind to tell his body how to move.

Now the recovery efforts are beginning. He has begun Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. The family is awaiting a transfer to St. Joseph’s medical center where it is hoped he will be accepted into the pediatric neurological rehabilitation facility.  The family is aggressively pursuing all therapy options, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

The Smith family is asking for any help from the community that is available to help pay for therapies not covered under insurance, but which have shown incredible results in similar situations in the past.  We are ALL praying for a full recovery for Chase. 

Thank you, and God Bless!

The Smith Family

ChanceForChase@gmail.com

(602) 670-1701