Yesterday morning as we were getting ready to start the day, I noticed that Kaitlyn looked pale and her fingernails were a little purple. I felt her forehead and she felt warm so we took her temperature. It was about 101 so we gave her some motrin. As the day went on, her fever got worse, almost to 104, and she started trying to vomit. I say "trying to vomit" because she has a nissen and technically can't vomit (a nissen is where they wrap the top of the stomach around the esophagus so that if the stomach contracts, like with vomiting or reflux, it won't go up into her airway for her to aspirate). So we immediately opened her G-Tube to let any stomach contents come out but she kept on heaving even when her stomach was empty.
With her disease, her ability to fight off viruses and infections is weakened. Her platelet counts tend to drop pretty quickly so we took her to the ER at Levine Children's Hospital to have her checked out. She stopped heaving but still had a fever. They drew blood to check her counts, collected urine and did a chest x-ray in the ER. Her platelet count was 81, normal for her is in the 100s. Her white blood cell count was 1.8. Low for a normal person is 5, so she was really low and they decided to admit her to the hospital overnight. The chest x-ray was streaky, common with a virus, but nothing too concerning.
(Sleeping in the ER)
We got settled into her room and she was doing a bit better. With more motrin, her fever went down some and she was really tired. By this point it was WAY past her and my bedtime. Around 2:30am, they came in to draw more blood and ultrasound her spleen and liver. There were a few spots on her belly that seemed rock hard so we wanted to have it checked out with the ultrasound. Everything was fine on the ultrasound. Her blood tests came back not so good. Her platelets had dropped from 81 to 60, which we expected based on her condition and past experience with her and viruses. They don't really consider transfusion until they are in the 20s. Her white blood count was still low at 1.9 and her hemaglobin was 8, which is low and of concern.
So it looks like we will be here for at least a few days. They will continue to monitor her blood and we are waiting for more test results to come back (blood culture for bacteria in the blood and her viral swab for known viruses).
Unfortunately this is the reality of this disease. Anytime she gets a virus, she will more than likely end up in the hospital. Our dilemma is do we hide our child under a rock so she doesn't get sick or expose her to others so she has a social life but have many hospital stays? Trying to find the balance isn't easy.
With her disease, her ability to fight off viruses and infections is weakened. Her platelet counts tend to drop pretty quickly so we took her to the ER at Levine Children's Hospital to have her checked out. She stopped heaving but still had a fever. They drew blood to check her counts, collected urine and did a chest x-ray in the ER. Her platelet count was 81, normal for her is in the 100s. Her white blood cell count was 1.8. Low for a normal person is 5, so she was really low and they decided to admit her to the hospital overnight. The chest x-ray was streaky, common with a virus, but nothing too concerning.
(Sleeping in the ER)
We got settled into her room and she was doing a bit better. With more motrin, her fever went down some and she was really tired. By this point it was WAY past her and my bedtime. Around 2:30am, they came in to draw more blood and ultrasound her spleen and liver. There were a few spots on her belly that seemed rock hard so we wanted to have it checked out with the ultrasound. Everything was fine on the ultrasound. Her blood tests came back not so good. Her platelets had dropped from 81 to 60, which we expected based on her condition and past experience with her and viruses. They don't really consider transfusion until they are in the 20s. Her white blood count was still low at 1.9 and her hemaglobin was 8, which is low and of concern.
So it looks like we will be here for at least a few days. They will continue to monitor her blood and we are waiting for more test results to come back (blood culture for bacteria in the blood and her viral swab for known viruses).
Unfortunately this is the reality of this disease. Anytime she gets a virus, she will more than likely end up in the hospital. Our dilemma is do we hide our child under a rock so she doesn't get sick or expose her to others so she has a social life but have many hospital stays? Trying to find the balance isn't easy.
Chip and Deanna,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that sweet Kaitlyn is in the hospital. We will continue to pray for her quick recovery from this virus and for both of you, too.
Finding that balance is so tough. I'm so sorry she is going through all of this. Many prayers that she is on the mend and out of the hospital soon and for you and Chip, prayers for strength to endure everyday!
ReplyDeleteSweet baby girl. Prayers being said for you all for strength in times when difficulties such as these come to you. Be blessed.
ReplyDeletePoor little peanut! I'm so sorry. Your family are in my prayers.
ReplyDelete