August 2026 Grants
Committee members present on the zoom call were Richard Emmel, Haley Davis, Sarah Owen, Kelly Dunlap and Prick Casey with Jacob Grummer of the ACH Social Work Department
Case 1: This case involves a request for an 18-year-old chronic, medically complex patient. The patient is quadriplegic, tracheostomy and ventilator dependent. The patient is six feet tall. Due to being contracted in a plantarflexed position and abnormal muscle tone, the patient ends up measuring seven feet tall. This is creating significant issues for the patient as they do not fit in a traditional bed. It is putting increased pressure on their feet and contributing to skin breakdown, sores, and edema. As the patient is paralyzed and cannot feel the pressure or move his feet to relieve the pressure, these sores have created wounds that have required multiple interventions due to unsuccessful healing. The patient is currently at risk for amputation due to continued infections in their legs, sepsis, and even death. A longer hospital quality bed would help relieve these issues for the patient. A request has been submitted to Medicaid on two separate occasions. Each time they have been denied. We are now seeking funding to ensure the patient can have a bed that will best fit their needs. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for a bed ($3065) Total Ask: $3065.00
The committee voted to support $1400, with the hope that ACH will make up the difference of $1665. If ACH cannot do this, then the case will be brought back at the next meeting for further discussion. It was noted that this case was funded by Baby Sharon on two prior occasions, so by our rules this will be the last support that we can provide .
Case 2: This case involves a 12-year-old patient who primarily lives out of state. The patient and family were in Little Rock when they started feeling ill and they were brought to Children’s Emergency Department in July. The patient quickly declined, requiring CPR, ECMO and intubation. The patient was transferred to the CVICU for treatment of viral myocarditis and suffered acute kidney injury, having to also be on CRRT treatments. The patient has made a remarkable recovery of their heart function, kidney function, and is neurologically intact. However, the patient suffered a leg injury, blocking blood flow, and will have to have an amputation of the right lower extremity. The patient had to be transferred to another facility for the amputation and rehab/recovery which fortunately was closer to home. However, since the patient had to be at ACH for over a month, the caregiver was unable to work and is falling behind on rent. Throughout the hospitalization at ACH, the caregiver was bedside to provide emotional support, parental consent for treatment, and daily care. Since the transfer, the caregiver has had to continue to bedside to continue to provide support and is unsure how long the admission will be for the rehab and when the caregiver will be able to return to work. Any financial assistance towards family rent would help them to stay in their home as they prepare for an eventual discharge home. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for rent for $3,915.31 Total Ask: $3,915.3
It was noted that this child is not a resident of Arkansas, so we cannot provide support for this request. It was noted that this case received support from Baby Sharon one previous occasion on May, 2026.
Case 3: This case involves a 10-month-old patient admitted to ACH. They are a chronic, medically complex patient who has had recurrent admissions since April due to chronic respiratory failure. Due to these admissions, the main financial provider/caregiver has had to miss work which has made maintaining bills and everyday expenses difficult. The caregiver also no longer qualifies for FMLA at their job, which has made missing work even more challenging. The patient has several siblings at home that caregiver supports as well. Due to this, the family is seeking assistance for their mortgage payment and their electrical bill. This is crucial for the patient as they are dependent on a BiPAP machine and other medical equipment that require safe and stable housing for the patient. If stable housing was not an option, they patient would have to go live in a facility until stable housing could be achieved. Additionally, the patient requires stable electricity for the powering of their medical equipment as going without them can lead to death. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for mortgage ($2898.06) and electric (504.48) Total Ask: $3402.54
The committee approved $3402.54 to support mortgage and electrical expenses.
Case #4 This case involves a 2-month-old infant who was born at 27 weeks gestation and transferred to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital NICU at 5 days of life due to a bowel perforation. Shortly after admission, they required an emergent exploratory laparotomy, during which a portion of his bowel was removed. The patient subsequently had an ostomy for several weeks and has since undergone successful reconnection of the bowel. The patient remains critically ill and has a prolonged NICU admission ahead, likely for several more months. They currently require CPAP for respiratory support and receive all nutrition through a G-tube. The patient is also being treated for an abdominal wound infection. Their ongoing medical needs include monitoring for immature retinas, hydronephrosis, patent ductus arteriosus, and MRSA colonization. Due to the complexity of the medical condition, the family is expected to remain in the hospital for an extended period before being medically ready for discharge.
Prior to the patient’s birth, both parents were employed full-time and financially supported their household. Shortly after birth the caregiver was hospitalized for cardiac optimization due to gestational hypertension and shortness of breath and other medical issues including surgical complications. Caregiver ended up having to take unpaid leave from work. Shortly after the patient was admitted to the NICU, the other caregiver was laid off from their job. They have made multiple attempts to obtain unemployment benefits but have encountered ongoing barriers and, after several months, has still not been approved. They have actively searched for employment and recently secured a part-time position. The current income is not sufficient to cover the family’s mortgage and other essential household expenses.
This family has experienced significant medical and financial hardship over the past several months. Despite these circumstances, both caregivers are actively working to improve their financial situation and are doing everything possible to maintain stable housing for their family. With the patient expected to remain hospitalized for several more months, the family’s financial strain is likely to continue. For these reasons, I am respectfully requesting Baby Sharon Grant assistance with four months of mortgage payments (999x4= $3996) to help the family maintain their housing while they navigate their child’s prolonged hospitalization, the caregiver’s medical recovery, and the other caregiver’s ongoing employment challenges. This assistance would provide critical financial stability during an exceptionally difficult period and allow the family to focus on their child’s medical needs without the immediate fear of losing their home. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for rent ($3996) Total Ask: $3996.
The committee approved $1998 to support two months’ rent.
Case #5 This case involves an 11-month-old chronic, medically complex patient in palliative care admitted to ACH. They are tracheostomy and ventilator dependent. Upon discharge to home, the patient will require a crib for a bed. Unlike some health babies who can use bassinets or pack ‘n’ plays to sleep in that can be cost efficient, trach and vent dependent babies cannot. This is due to the need to sleep higher than their heated humidifier at the risk of water entering the trach tubing and drowning the patient. This is significant safety risk that can cause death to the patient. Additionally, once discharged, to help in patient transport to appointments and within their community, the patient will require a double stroller due to the amount of medical equipment that will need to go with patient wherever they go. Due to being in the hospital and the requirement to train and learn the patient’s care, the caregiver has been unable to work. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for $440 to cover a crib, mattress and stroller Total Ask: $440.00
The committee approved $440 for the cost of crib, mattress, and stroller. It was noted that this case received support from Baby Sharon on one previous occasion in April, 2026.
Case #6 This case involves a 14-month-old chronic, medically complex patient admitted to ACH. They are tracheostomy and ventilator dependent. Upon discharge to home, the patient will require a crib for a bed. Unlike some health babies who can use bassinets or pack ‘n’ plays to sleep in that can be cost efficient, trach and vent dependent babies cannot. This is due to the need to sleep higher than their heated humidifier at the risk of water entering the trach tubing and drowning the patient. This is significant safety risk that can cause death to the patient. Additionally, once discharged, to help with patient transport to appointments and within their community, the patient will require a wagon due to the amount of medical equipment that will need to go with patient wherever they go. Due to being in the hospital and the requirement to train and learn the patient’s care, the caregiver has been unable to work. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for $460 to cover a crib, mattress and wagon. Total Ask: $460.00
The committee approved $460 to support the costs of crib, mattress, and wagon.
Case #7 This case involves a 5 y/o patient who has SETD1B-related neurodevelopmental disorder and genetic generalized epilepsy with absence seizures and eyelid myoclonia along with a potential autism diagnosis. Family is requesting help in paying for a service dog as the patient is having behavioral problems that put the patient at risk. The patient will elope without parents knowledge and also will only sleep alone. Parents are fearful of seizures in the night as the patient is currently on their 3rd medication to attempt to have these under control. Physicians state that the patient’s diagnosis places them at relatively higher risk for sudden unexpected death (SUDEP) compared to general population. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for a service dog/training ($5,000) Total Ask: $5,000
The committee declined to support this case as it was judged to not be catastrophic.
