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Family seeks cure for ‘failing’ son

By J. Scott Truax
Citizen Journalist

Three-year-old Carter Pepper isn’t doing so well.

Carter Pepper

More than a year after a local fundraiser for Carter, who suffers from the rare genetic disease Fanconi anemia, his family rallied the community for another fundraiser in a desperate race against the clock.

“Carter is definitely failing,” said Crystal Pepper, Carter’s mother.

Carter’s blood platelet count has dropped so low that he now requires a bone marrow transplant. The necessities of extensive medical travel, unpaid time away from work and expenses not covered by insurance have also created substantial needs for the Peppers.

“We made eight or nine trips to Minneapolis in 2008 alone for medical treatments for Carter,” said Josh Pepper, Carter’s father. The Peppers face an estimated cost of $250,000 for the cost of the transplant; at least 20 percent of the cost is not covered by insurance.

Recently, to aid in his growth, Carter has had a nightly feeding tube inserted.

Community support

Through the recent difficulties, family, friends and Garner residents have rallied around the Pepper family.

“For the first time in our lives, we are at the point that we must rely on other people to get through,” Josh Pepper said.

Standing at the intersection of Poole Road and Aversboro Road Friday, Aug. 7, Carter’s grandmother, Diane Pollard, stood with a friend from Vandora Springs Baptist Church, Lori Spears, waving in passersby to the Garner Civitan clubhouse to take part in a barbecue fundraiser for Carter.

Throughout the day, people came and went, purchasing the barbecue platters prepared by Carolina Barbecue and stopping by to show support for the Peppers. Family members and friends were also busy delivering meals to area homes and businesses as part of the fundraiser.

“We made deliveries all over Raleigh, Cary and Garner,” said John Pepper, Carter’s grandfather. By the time the fundraiser wound down at 7 p.m., more than 650 meals had been served or delivered.

During the past few months, the Peppers have held yard sales, spaghetti dinners and other fundraisers. Local churches have donated items for the fundraisers.

An urgent situation

As Carter’s condition deteriorates and his blood platelet count continues to drop, his parents face difficult, time-pressured decisions. Their best option is to acquire a genetically compatible donor for the bone marrow transplant, which would save their son.

The best compatible donor, and one who would decrease the possibilities of complications, would be a sibling of the recipient. Carter is an only child, but Josh and Carter Pepper are pursuing in vitro fertilization for a genetically compatible sibling for their son.

But the Peppers only have three shots to conceive another child, a limitation placed on them by their attending physicians; they’ve already had two strikes. If the third attempt is unsuccessful, then the Peppers will have to immediately seek a donor from a national donor registry.

Recently, the urgency of Carter’s situation hit home for the Peppers. Through a fundraiser for Carter held in Roanoke Rapids, they met 8-year-old Dylan Moore. Dylan also had Fanconi anemia. The Peppers had even attended a party for Dylan before his scheduled bone marrow transplant operation. About two weeks ago, Dylan passed away from the disease.

Faith’s role

In addition to fundraisers, Josh Pepper has enlisted the help of his music ministry, Faith Always, in area churches to help raise funds to offset the medical costs. Recently, he has been invited to churches in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia where he played his music and sold books and CDs. He has written and recorded several songs about the challenges they have faced with Carter’s medical condition.

“Sometimes, you’ve got to be at your weakest point for God to show himself to you,” Josh said.

Requests for Faith Always materials and appearances can be made at cjp_josh@yahoo.com. More information and updates on Carter’s condition is available at caringbridge.org/visit/carterpepper.

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