LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – 7-year-old Carter is getting ready for life-changing surgery later this summer.
FOX5 first shared Carter’s story last week as we explained his severe skin condition.
Carter was born with Lamellar ichthyosis and Ectropion which makes it impossible for him to close his eyes.
Carter’s story has spread across the country and our FOX5 viewers did not hesitate to help.
Since his story first aired, FOX5 has gotten many emails from viewers asking about Carter, wanting to help and just let him know he is not alone.
This week, FOX5 went to visit Carter again to relay your kind messages, but we were met with a surprise gesture from Carter.
Carter was waiting by his door with flowers for us.
“I thought I was not going to see you again,” Carter said.
Carter’s story has impacted not just our viewers, but the staff at FOX5 as well. We have decided we will be following Carter’s journey to and from San Diego as he gets his surgery.
“He thought it was so cool to see him like that and to hear the things you were saying about him. It just really warms his heart. We just never expected it to be what it became,” said Shai Bresee, his mom.
Carter’s surgery and after care in California was going to cost the single mom a lot of money but now she does not have to worry about that anymore.
FOX5 viewers helped her surpass her original $8,000 fundraising goal. As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe sits at just over $33,000.
“He was telling me how grateful he is, and we can’t take this for granted because all these people were helping us. He is so smart and so aware,’ Bresee said. “We will have the means to genuinely keep him comfortable and not worry about the bills back at home.”
After surgery Carter will need to recover for more than a month, which is why his mom hopes he could have some fun before hand.
While we were at his home, Carter’s mom told Carter they will be able to go to LEGOLAND California.
However, Carter responded by saying, “it depends on how much the surgery is.” His mom told Carter that it is not his job to worry about money.
With surgery on his mind, Carter will spend most of his summer inside playing Tic-Tac-Toe. When Carter does get to go outside, it can’t be for too long unless he is wearing a cooling vest.
Carter is doing the best he can to deal with the circumstances life has given him.
The family will travel to San Diego in July to have a consult with his doctors and come up with a game plan and surgery date.
FOX5 will continue to follow Carter’s story.
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