Bryant, Abbi & Charley Odom Need Our Help!

On Dec. 30, 2014, Charlotte “Charley” Linn Odom was born to Bryant and Abbi -- each of whom played golf at Georgia -- by means of an emergency C-section, due to a dropping and sporadic heart rate. She weighed 3 pounds and 5 ounces. Charley had spent 31 weeks growing in the safety of Abbi’s womb, but she could grow there no longer and entered this world nine weeks sooner than expected.

Amidst all of the rejoicing at the birth of precious little Charley, the Odoms' trials were not over. As Charley was born she was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further evaluation and necessary life support systems.  The esophageal issues that had been suspected by the specialist were now clearly seen by the hospital’s medical team.  Charley was born with aTracheoesophageal Fistula (TE Fistula) – a gap in the middle of the esophagus which prohibits food and fluid from finding its way to her tiny little tummy.  Thirty-six hours after being born, little Charley underwent surgery to repair the TE Fistula. The surgery was a success, but the road to recovery will not be swift.  Charley will spend anywhere from 6-8 more weeks in the hospital’s NICU. 

While Bryant and Abbi have adequate health insurance by some standards, the costs of Abbi’s C-section, Charley’s surgery and her long term care in the NICU will stretch their policy’s out-of-pocket maximum allowance well beyond its borders.  Another exacerbating issue is that since this hospital journey began on Dec. 30, 2014, and continues into 2015, both the 2014 and 2015 deductibles and maximums will be utilized. 

The Odoms live in Cullowhee, N.C., where Bryant coaches the Western Carolina University golf team, and Abbi is a third-grade teacher at a local charter school. They have been in North Carolina for only a year and a half.  Because of that, Abbi has accrued little sick leave – not nearly enough to support this necessary extended absence.  She will miss over 11 weeks of work as she cares for the needs of her newborn.  

Bryant and Abbi are hardworking people. They labor well at the jobs that they have been given and seek to be wise stewards of all that has been entrusted to them.  In spite of all that, they find themselves needing some help in order to meet the financial needs that are providentially being written upon the pages of their story.  For years this husband and wife team has dreamed of becoming a mom and dad team.  That dream is now being realized, but at great expense.

Would you please join Bryant and Abbi in praying for the ever increasing health and strength of little Charley?  Would you also consider coming alongside team Odom financially as they face the mounting medical bills of bringing their baby home?   

Your prayers, your gifts, and your words of encouragement are cherished by Charley’s mom and dad, as well as by those of us who love them!  Thanks for your support!