Amber Barr knows a whole lot about dealing with and caring for children, particularly young ones. For the long-time Harrison County educator and 10-year Johnson Elementary first grade teacher it is a positive occupational hazard.

 

There is one thing no one could prepare her, her daughter, her son-in-law, and everyone she knows and loves for. In fact, it is a scenario that has a woman who has impacted hundreds of children during her 16-year career asking for one thing from the community.

 

Prayers.

 

Barr, a grandmother of five, believes in the power of prayer. She is leaning on it. She is counting on it. And Amber Barr is not alone in a situation that is taxing and draining on so many she loves.

 

Amber Barr’s grandson, Maddox Cade Ring, will likely need a heart transplant. Just three months old and never yet having been home, little Maddox has battled health issues since the day Amber’s daughter Sarah Ring – the wife of Hunter Ring – gave birth to the beautiful child.

 

On January 15, Maddox was born at Mon General. Health issues presented themselves almost immediately.

 

Maddox was born with a condition called meconium ileus, which is an issue involving the bowel. It is also a sign a child likely has Cystic Fibrosis. In this particular situation, such was the case.

 

Sarah, 27, and Hunter were aware there may be an issue. When Sarah was 20 weeks pregnant, an anatomy scan showed a bowel abnormality that had her referred to West Virginia University’s High Risk in Genetics Clinic.

 

“They believed what they saw was not significant or anything to give too much worry to and didn’t think it would be much of an issue,” Amber said.

 

Because of that, there was a recommendation for genetic testing since Sarah was at the clinic. At 32 weeks, Sarah found out she was a carrier of Cystic Fibrosis. Hunter would also be tested, and it was determined that he, too, was also a carrier. Although neither had the disease, it increased the likelihood the baby could have it. At 32 weeks, however, it was too late to test Maddox as the results would not be available until after he was born.

 

When he was born, the initial blockage on the bowel was found. From there, he was transferred from Mon General to the NICU at Ruby Memorial at just two days old. A day later, he would have the first of two surgeries and would be diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

 

Even with that, despite wanting to get home, things were progressing when a second surgery involving the bowel came on March 15, Maddox’s two-month birthday. All things considered, things went well and Sarah, a 2014 Bridgeport High School graduate, and Hunter, a Valley High graduate, looked to bring their child back to western Harrison County on April 5.

 

The worst, it thought, was not only know, soon to be behind them and part of life. Sadly, there were other plans set to be revealed the day of discharge.

 

“They were doing some testing on the day they were scheduled to have Maddox discharged and was determined he was in heart failure,” said Amber. “The ECHO (echocardiogram) found his heart was enlarged and there was just a 15 percent ejection fraction, which showed his heart was in failure.”

 

From there, arrangements were made to get Maddox to UPMC in Pittsburgh. The official condition is dilated cardiomyopathy.

 

“That’s where we are now,” said Amber. “The thing that made this so tough is there was nothing leading up to this. There was no idea there was any issue with the heart.”

 

In the last week, Maddox has been intubated and then extubated him as they woke baby Maddox up. The good news is that he is responding to his parents and those around him. The tough news is there is still a bit of a waiting game.

 

“He is not yet on the heart transplant list because you have to prepare everything and wait for the test results; some can take a couple of weeks,” Amber said Wednesday. “They do believe that is the direction he’ll end up going and see while we wait what his heart can do on its own.”

 

The waiting game has been like the months leading up to this point, today being the three-month birthday of Maddox – costly. Even with insurance, the family is facing a financial avalanche that anyone who has dealt with any level of health problems knows is all too real.

 

For Sarah and Hunter Ring, there is no certainty on how long things will continue. Mom and dad have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House with mom continuing the stay and Hunter having to return to his work Thursday.

 

“It has been a large financial drain on the family. Hunter (is back) working and Sarah worked a lot (as an optional part-time nurse) before this, but hasn’t been back since this began,” said Amber. “People know it’s a struggle and we’ve seen my Johnson family rally behind me, and I’ve seen Hunter’s former classmates at Valley organizing things along with those he works with at the Harrison Power Station providing donations. There is just so much generosity I know I can’t think of them all.”

 

The generosity stems with both sides of Sarah and Hunter’s family. Amber and her husband are not alone in assisting with watching Sarah and Hunter’s soon to be 3-year-old daughter Evelyn as Hunter’s parents are also heavily involved. The help, and the financial help, is welcome and needed.

 

Although they are staying at the Ronald McDonald House at $20 a day, even that adds up after months. You add to that gas, money for food, the cost of incidentals and so many others and it can create a mountain of worry beside an Everest of worry with Maddox.

 

“Anything has been helpful financially. Anything anyone has done to help us out in any manner has been appreciated beyond words. As for my work family, I just can’t say enough about them,” said Amber as her voice cracked with emotion. “They are there to help me with classes, duties, the extra things teachers do. They’re so supportive; everyone has just been so supportive.”

 

You can be supportive, too. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Sarah, Hunter, and baby Maddox. You can find the page by clicking HERE.

 

For those that cannot support this battle financially, Amber Barr said there is something she hopes you can do.

 

“Just pray,” said Barr. “To us, that is more valuable than anything.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Sarah and Hunter Ring with their son Maddox, while Sarah is shown with her mother and Johnson Elementary School teacher Amber Barr in the second photo. In the third photo, adorable baby Maddox is shown, while in the bottom photo Maddox is getting love from his sister Evelyn with mom and dad by their side.