Present on the zoom call were Richard Emmel, Sarah Owens, and Patrick Casey with Jacob Grummer of ACH Social Work Department.
Absent were committee members Haley Davis and Kelly Dunlap.
Case 1: This case involves a 5-month-old diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease on chronic dialysis. They were diagnosed with chronic lung disease, multiple congenital anomalies and were premature. They had an extensive stay in the NICU in Spring/Summer 2025. After being discharged, they were home for one week before being re-admitted to ACH for another three months. They continue to be followed by specialty services and receive physical and occupational therapy to address developmental delays. Due to these hospitalizations, ongoing medical care needs, and monthly clinic visits, the family is experiencing significant financial strain. The family has three other siblings and only has one caregiver employed while the other stays at home to care for children. During the inpatient stays, the stay-at-home caregiver had to make countless trips to and from their home in Northwest Arkansas to be present for the patient and care for other children. During that time, the caregiver also spent a week going through hands-on training with nursing staff to be able to perform life-saving dialysis at home. The family has a great support system of extended family who provide emotional support and helps with childcare when patient is admitted. However, they are in need of financial support to help them with their rent payment. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration a request for $1,195 towards rent. Total Ask: $1,195
The committee approved $1195 for one month’s rent.
Case 2: This case involves an 8-year-old patient currently admitted due to a cranial epidural abscess. According the patient’s caregiver, the patient was experiencing several headaches two weeks prior to admission, along with eye pressure, fever, and neck pain. Emergency surgery was required in November followed by a second procedure for an epidural abscess washout. Due to the seriousness of the patient’s condition and the need for continuous support at bedside, the patient’s caregiver has been unable to report to their job, which requires employees to submit work schedules one month in advance. However, due to the uncertain length of hospitalization, this has been impossible for the caregiver to notify their employer. In addition to remaining at the hospital, the caregiver must also manage care of their two other children at home, further limiting their ability to work. Financial assistance is urgently needed to help the caregiver cover essential bills that have gone unpaid due to loss of income. This support would provide stability for the family while the patient continues to recover.
Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: Water Bill ($241.54), Electric ($169.56), Gas ($139.90), Phone ($209.54), Internet ($100.34), Car payment ($653.61) and Rent ($1,763.75) Total ask: $3,278.24.
The committee approved $1864.09 for rent and internet. ACH Social work will support the other expenses.
Case 3: This case involves a 3-month-old premature twin patient who has been in the NICU for over two months. They have been diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) a congenital heart condition that affects breathing, feeding, and overall stability. Tragically, the patient’s twin passed during birth, which has understandably taken a significant emotional toll on the caregiver. The caregiver initially planned to take six weeks off work following the birth but returned early due to falling behind on payments. Despite their best efforts communicating the situation with the car company, no accommodations were provided. The caregiver has since lost their job, resulting in the vehicle being repossessed and they have no funds to retrieve it. Due to the lack of transportation, the caregiver is currently unable to visit the patient regularly and able to secure new employment. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: $5,000 towards the down payment of a used vehicle Total ask: $5,000
The committee was concerned about spending $5000 on a very old vehicle with near 150000 miles. The committee therefore approved $1500 for uber-like transportation and $400 for gas cards to assist people who drive the patient to the hospital, for a total of $1900.
Case 4: This case involves a 7-month-old patient born at 24 weeks gestgation admitted since August in the NICU. The patient spent their first three months at a different hospital before being transferred to ACH. Patient’s main diagnosis is bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a serious lung condition that impacts the ability to breathe and the patient is currently on a ventilator and also has an ASD among other issues. Due to their complex medical needs, one of the caregivers has been unable to work and was forced to step away from their position. This left the other caregiver as the sole financial provider. Despite their best efforts to stay current on their smaller bills, the family has experienced significant financial strain. Their primary challenges at this time are maintaining their mortgage and utility payments. The patient recently underwent a tracheostomy, and although they were making progress, a recent illness has extended their stay by several more months. This prolonged hospitalization has placed considerable emotional and financial stress on the family. Receiving financial assistance at this time would greatly reduce their burden and allow them to focus on the patient’s continued care and recovery. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: Electric ($331.27) and Mortgage ($2,597.82) Total ask: $2,929.09.
The committee approved $1986 for 2 month’s rent.
Case 5: This case involves a 9-month-old patient admitted to ACH since May 2025. They are chronic, medically complex patient, with multiple congenital anomalies, dysphagia, ectopic kidney among others and are tracheostomy, ventilator, GI dependent. The caregivers have been bedside since admission as one of the caregivers is self-employed and the other works for a family business. They have been managing with support of family but their long-term admission and need to get their home ready for patient’s discharge in the next month has limited their financial abilities even more. The family is hoping that assistance can be provided for two utility bills and a wagon. Due to the amount of medical equipment needed to go along with the patient’s every trip out of the house, the wagon would help carry the equipment and the patient and travel safely. Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: Gas ($111.31), Water ($65.02) and Wagon ($599). Total ask: $775.33
ACH Social Work will support the gas and water expense. The committee deferred the decision to support the cost of the wagon pending further research.
Case 6: This case involves a four-month-old infant, born at 36 weeks’ gestation, who was transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital NICU at two days of life due to significant hypoxemia. They were subsequently diagnosed with respiratory distress, hypoxia, and tetralogy of Fallot. In November, the patient underwent corrective cardiac surgery for tetralogy of Fallot. Despite surgical intervention, they continue to require ongoing intensive medical support and remain hospitalized in the NICU. At this time, the patient is expected to remain in the NICU for several more weeks to slowly wean from oxygen support. There is a strong possibility that they may require placement of a gastrostomy tube prior to discharge if unable to safely take full feeds by bottle. Following discharge, they will require multiple specialty follow-up appointments to monitor their complex medical needs.
The patient’s caregiver is a single parent of two children and works full-time to support the family. Following the patient’s birth and subsequent medical complications, the caregiver was unable to return to work for several weeks. During this absence, their caseload was reassigned. This resulted in a significant loss of income and placed the family under severe financial strain. As a result, the caregiver fell substantially behind on rent and was formally evicted from their apartment earlier this week. Despite these challenges, the caregiver has remained proactive and resilient. They have been actively searching for stable housing and have secured enough funds to cover a security deposit for a new residence. Over the past two months, they just returned to earning full-time income. Unfortunately, over the weekend they experienced another unexpected hardship when they sustained a broken ankle that will require surgical intervention. They will now need to be on short-term disability for several weeks, which once again will require them to rebuild their caseload.
Given the patient’s ongoing hospitalization, medical fragility, and the family’s repeated and unforeseeable hardships, stable housing is critical to prevent further disruption and crisis. We are respectfully requesting assistance to cover two months of rent for the family’s new home in order to prevent another eviction and allow the caregiver the stability needed to focus on the child’s medical care and recovery.
Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: $3,000 ($1500 x two months) Total ask: $3,000.
The committee approved $3000for 2 month’s rent.
The total apposed today was $9945.09.
