WOOD RIVER - Allison Schardan knew something was wrong with her 3-year-old son when the normal bumps and bruises of childhood started to intensify.
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In October, Carsen, a loving, vibrant toddler, began to bruise easily and often. It confused Schardan, who also noticed red dots on his skin, called petechiae. She asked her mom, a nurse, who agreed there was “something going on with his blood.”
The pediatrician drew labs and discovered Carsen’s platelet count was at a nine. The normal range is 150–400.
And thus began a long journey.
“This literally can happen to the healthiest of children,” Schardan said. “I think just getting his story out there means a lot.”
On that October day, the doctor directed Schardan to take Carsen to Children’s Hospital. In the two hours it took the family to pack a bag and check in at Children’s, Carsen’s platelet count dropped to a two.
He was eventually diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), a rare bleeding disorder where the immune system attacks platelets. The last several months have been full of ups and downs, literally: Every time Carsen’s platelet count increases, it seems to drop just as dramatically.
“He’s getting his blood drawn weekly to kind of see where it’s staying. He’s been on steroids since October. It’s just been one thing after another,” Schardan shared. “I think the hardest part was when his counts dropped drastically after being at such a high number, and he just got really upset because he had to go to the hospital. It’s very traumatic taking a 3-year-old to get blood drawn all the time.”
Further complicating the story is Carsen’s medication. The steroids are a lot for a child’s body, and he has been experiencing “toddler roid rage.” The sweet “mama’s boy” is now grumpy and distant.
“He is a great kid. The steroids cause behavioral issues. So that has been weighing on all of us too, because he’s just not been Carsen. He’s been this crabby little 3-year-old,” Schardan explained. “But he can’t help it. He doesn’t know how to handle it, because the steroids make his body just completely different.”
Schardan is asking for the community’s support. The constant trips back and forth to Children’s — including a two-hour drive from Wood River to St. Louis in the snow recently — are wearing on the family’s finances, and Carsen’s father has missed a lot of work to be there for his appointments.
Schardan, who admitted she “hate[s] asking for help,” has set up an AngeLink campaign. Similar to a GoFundMe, this campaign will give community members’ donations to Schardan and her family to pay for medical care and transportation costs.
“I don’t know, I just feel like we’re not done yet,” she said. “We don’t know what the future looks like. We don't know if his counts are going to stay stable. We don’t know if we’re going to have to be admitted again.”
In the meantime, the family is trying to enjoy the holidays and celebrate that Carsen’s platelet count is currently stable. Carsen has discovered the joy of helping around the house, which his mother loves, and they’ve been completing chores together with his little sister. He also spends as much time playing outside as he can, and he often takes things apart to understand how they work. His preschool teachers say he’s doing great.
As the family continues to navigate Carsen’s health, Schardan has an important message for all parents and caregivers. She encourages adults to push for answers and do everything they can to support their children.
“Always advocate for your kids. That’s my biggest thing,” she said. “I am a strong advocate for my children’s health. I know when something's not right with my kids, and I will push and push and push until I have answers. That’s exactly what I did with this.”
For updates on Carsen’s story or to donate to the family’s AngeLink campaign, click here.
