A Baby's Struggle: The Hidden Dangers of Donated Formula

In Portland, Oregon, a 10-month-old boy named Ashaan Carter is on a long road to recovery after a scary encounter with infant botulism. This all started when he drank formula that was later found to be contaminated. The formula, donated to families in need, was supposed to be a helping hand but turned into a health nightmare.

The Beginning of a Nightmare

The problem began when Ashaan's mom, Angel Carter, received the ByHeart infant formula from a caseworker. She was having trouble with her milk supply and hoped the formula would help her baby transition to a bottle. But soon after Ashaan started drinking it, things went downhill fast.

He developed severe constipation and muscle weakness.
He became so weak that he couldn't even lift his head.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors diagnosed Ashaan with infant botulism, a serious condition that affects the nervous system. He was treated with IV medication to stop the infection from getting worse.

After nearly two weeks in the hospital, he was sent home.
But his condition quickly worsened.
He lost weight and was hospitalized again in December.
His mom feared he might not survive.

Recovery and Challenges

Now, Ashaan has a feeding tube because his muscles are still too weak for him to eat on his own. He is also relearning basic skills like moving around and making sounds.

It's unclear how long his recovery will take.
This has been a devastating experience for his family.

The Contaminated Formula

The ByHeart formula that caused Ashaan's illness was part of a donation program aimed at helping low-income and homeless families.

Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans were distributed nationwide.
One recipient group, PDX Diaper Bank, received about 400 cans and distributed more than 300 before the recall.

Recall and Investigation

All ByHeart products made since March 2022 have now been recalled due to possible contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has inspected the company's production facilities but has not released details about what caused the contamination.
Production is still shut down.

Questions and Concerns

This situation raises important questions about the safety of donated formula and the trust families place in social services to provide safe food for their babies.

It's a reminder that even well-intentioned programs can have serious consequences when safety protocols fail.