March 2026 Cases
Case 1: This case involves a 14-month-old patient diagnosed with Noonan’s Syndrome
and associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They are a palliative care patient that
sees multiple specialists such as: Genetics, Cardiology, Surgery, and Nephrology
among others. The patient has been hospitalized three times this year due to illness.
Due to the patient’s medical condition, they have frequent visits to both Arkansas
Children’s Hospital (the northwest and Little Rock campuses). Since the patient is at a
higher risk of needing emergent medical attention, utilizing Medicaid Transportation is
not helpful or reliable at times. Previously, the family was sharing a vehicle with a family
member. This was impacting their family greatly and often meant that the caregiver
could only stay with patient overnight during the hospitalization due to other people
needing the vehicle and transporting the patient’s siblings. The family saved up to buy
a car, and it broke down within days. Caregiver states they have been told a rough
estimate for repairs would be $2,500 to fix the transmission. Having a vehicle will allow
a caregiver to be at bedside with the patient during hospitalizations more often, while
continuing to adequately care for their other children. Additionally, the family’s living
situation will also change soon. They currently rent a room and split the bills with a
roommate. The roommate will be leaving in May and therefore will be affecting the
families’ finances even more, so family has started looking for other housing options.
Therefore, we are submitting for your consideration the following needs: Auto
Repairs ($2,500). Total ask: $2,500.
After discussion about concerns regarding the quality of this vehicle that broke
right after purchase, the committee deferred decision on this case. Jacob was
asked to provide more detail about this vehicle, and to ask if we could provide the
requested $2500 to support other expenses .
Case 2: This case involves an 18-year-old patient admitted to the hospital. They are
chronic, medically complex patient who is tracheostomy and ventilator dependent which
utilizes a lot of medical equipment and substantial amounts of electrical power. The
family recently moved into a new house to better accommodate all the equipment and
medical supplies and allow for better comfort. With this move and deposit charges
came a large electrical bill. The caregivers with CADC (Central Arkansas Develolpmetn
Council)to help get assistance on the cost of the bill as it was more than they
anticipated. The following month, however, the bill once again came back extremely
high. The family has already called the electric company and the maintenance team at
their home to get the system check and issues corrected but was informed the amount
must be paid no matter what. The electric company is working with the caregiver on the
matter. The caregiver has already ensured next month’s bill is back to a normal and
reasonable amount. Since the patient is vent dependent, they cannot go without power
as it is a matter of life or death. Therefore, we are submitting for your
consideration a request for $811.22 for the remaining balance of their electrical
bill. Total Ask: $ 811.22
The committee voted to approve the $811.12 to assist with the cost of the
electrical bill. It was noted that the committee provided support to this family in
2024.
Case 3: This case involves a 3-year-old patient with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5
who requires nightly dialysis. This is performed by the caregivers. As part of the
treatment, the patient sees their care team monthly here at the hospital which family
travels from Northwest Arkansas. Both caregivers take off work to attend the
appointments due to limited transportation. Since the patient is dialysis-dependent, they
have to complete nightly dialysis until they receive a lifesaving kidney transplant. The
patient is currently active on the transplant waitlist and could receive a kidney offer at
any time. This means the caregivers must be prepared to leave work and other children
at any time, which is a significant stressor to the family. Additionally, managing the
patient’s treatments and outpatient appointments is challenging for two working
caregivers with three other school-aged children to care for. Since the patient’s
condition does not allow them to attend preschool, one of the caregivers can only work
part-time. This causes a financial impact on the family being able to pay all of their bills
on time. The family is seeking assistance with their rent, so they do not fall behind on
their bills and are able to plan for upcoming transplant-related expenses. Therefore,
we are submitting for your consideration the following need: Rent ($1,425) Total
ask: $1,425.
The committee vot to approve the $1426 to support the cost of rent. It was noted
that the committee provided support to this family in Juy,2025
Case 4: This case involves a 15-month-old admitted to ACH for most of their life for
multiple issues including osteogenesis imperfect (a genetic disorder) as well as double
outlet right ventricle as well as being trach/vent dependent. The patient is currently
preparing to transition home after over a year of hospitalization. The patient is in need
of a pediatric wheelchair which will be covered by the company, but the shipping costs
would be the responsibility of the family. The family has minimal financial resources at
this time as the caregiver has not been able to consistently work due to the lengthy
admission and care for other siblings. Therefore, we are submitting for your
consideration the following a request for $100 towards the shipment fees for this
wheelchair. Total Ask: $100.00
The committee voted to approve $100 to cover shipment fees. It was noted that
the committee support this family in February, 2025.
Case 5: This case involves a 9-year-old patient who suffered an eye injury from a
Roman candle on July 4 th 2025. The patient was taken to the emergency room in
ACNW (Arkansas Children’s Northwest) and had to be transferred to ACH due to the
severity of the injury. They were diagnosed with having a corneal abrasion and foreign
body in the eye that required surgery to remove the foreign body. After surgery, the
patient was prescribed a regimen of different eye drops and ointments to help heal the
eye. However, the eye continued to worsen. They have struggled for months with pain,
discharge, redness and visual disturbance. They had corneal edema, haze and
scarring. The patient has been hospitalized twice since the surgery to help heal the eye
and has been seen by specialists in Missouri and Arkansas. However, both providers in
Missouri and Arkansas have said there is nothing more they can do for the eye and
have referred the patient to an eye specialist in Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Nischal at the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The family went to Pittsburgh earlier this year
for a pre-op appointment. Dr. Nischal recommends surgery to save the patient’s eye
through a corneal transplant surgery. Understandably, the family has been under a lot of
stress and worry about the patient’s situation and have tried everything they could
locally to address the patient’s needs as well as taking them to PA for the pre-op
appointment. All of these appointments and travel needs have taken a financial toll on
the family who are already struggling. The caregiver works part-time as a care aide.
The family does not have their own housing and has been staying with a family friend.
They have exhausted their financial options and cannot afford the transportation
(airfare) to take the patient to Pittsburgh to save the patient’s eyesight. This is the last
hope the family has to save the patient’s eye. Therefore, we are submitting for your
consideration the following request of $2,206.18 towards the airflight for the
patient and caregiver to and from Pittsburgh, PA for this surgery. Total Ask:
$2,206.18
The committee voted to support the request of $2206.18 to cover the cost of a
flight to Pittsburgh, PA for 2 people.
