Local family starts GoFundMe to help with treatment
The world is so full of stories of situations that can seem overwhelming, needs that seem immeasurable, and tasks that are so daunting they can seem impossible. Trying to help those situations as an individual can seem just as overwhelming. The truth is, though, no individual is capable of doing it on their own, and it truly does take a village.
As a community paper, one of our missions is to try to help people who are looking for help find people who are looking for people to help (or words to that effect but better). To that end, please contact [email protected] if you have a story similar to the one below, featuring the Davids family.
I met Chelsey Davids during her time working for the City of Soda Springs, and I would like to personally note that Chelsey was a delight to work with. Her decision to leave the city offices was partly as a result of the time required to care for her son, as she explains. Presented here is a message from Chelsey about her family’s situation. A Venmo and GoFundMe link are included with this article. Once again, if you have a cause that you think we might be able to help you spread the word about, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at my email address. We try to cover as much as we can, but there’s always more we would like to get to.
Chelsey Davids:
“I’m sharing our journey with both vulnerability and hope, because Clair has already beaten odds no child should ever face, and we are fighting every day to give him the future he deserves.
Clair entered this world through an emergency C-section. His dad didn’t even make it to the hospital, it happened that fast. He was born not breathing and rushed straight to the NICU. We were told he had multiple organ failure that might stabilize with intervention and miraculously, he did.
Before we were able to take him home, we sat across from a neonatal neurologist who warned us that Cerebral Palsy was a strong possibility.
When Clair finally came home, feeding was a daily struggle. At just four months old, he aspirated during a bottle feeding, and in a moment no parent is ever prepared for, his mom, dad, and grandma performed CPR while we sped to the Emergency Room. He was stabilized and transported first to Pocatello, then life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital.
He survived. He is our miracle.
At six months old, Clair was officially diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. His determination and joy have been constant reminders that miracles sometimes appear in tiny victories.
We have devoted everything to giving Clair the best life we can. Today he is supported by:
• 9 specialty physicians
• 11 therapists
• Countless hours of early intervention at home focusing on neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire.
Between medical appointments and therapy sessions, we work just as hard to give him a childhood that is inclusive and full of joy.
We are grateful for what private insurance and Idaho Medicaid cover, but the truth is, the therapies that change long-term outcomes are not covered.
The treatments that offer real breakthrough progress… are all out-of-pocket.
For as long as we could, we absorbed these costs ourselves by stretching every dollar, and hoping we could carry it alone. But the financial weight has become too heavy.
Among the treatments showing real promise for children like Clair are:
• Stem Cell Therapy
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
These are life-changing approaches, backed by years of successful clinical trials, but without the insurance coverage it leaves families like ours to fund them entirely on our own. We hope to give Clair access to this therapy every six months and will continue as long as it continues to help him.
Medicine says “cerebral palsy has no cure.”But Clair has rewritten every rule placed on him so far, so we choose to believe in all possibilities. Here’s the reality:
• Each stem cell treatment: $15,825 every 6-9 months
• Each Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment: $125
We are asking for help not because Clair is defined by his challenges, but because he is worth every opportunity we can give him. Your support doesn’t just fund medical bills, it keeps his progress moving and allows him to keep reaching new milestones.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in Clair and fighting beside us. Your generosity means more than we could ever express.
With deep gratitude,
The Davids Family”
