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Thursday, October 17, 2019

One of those bumpy patches in life.

I haven’t written a post for a while; the last ones were written using hotel wifi in Copenhagen, saved as drafts and then published when our 3 SIM cards worked in various Baltic ports. But those posts were just about Ireland and I fully intend to write posts about the rest of our holiday as they make a great record to look back on. We have been back at home for not quite 2 weeks 
and this post is about what has happened since we’ve been home. 
We arrived home on the Saturday night and on Sunday night DD1 let me know that her little girl had a cough and was coughing until she vomited. The little one was taken to the doctors on the Monday and she was diagnosed with a virus probably caused by teething. The doctor apparently wasn’t perturbed that C’s temperature was 39.9. DH and I visited them on Monday night and C was a bit grizzly and wouldn’t eat. But at 2am Monday morning she woke up crying and was inconsolable. 
Our son in law once again took her to the doctor and this time the appointment was with the family’s regular  GP who immediately diagnosed pneumonia and organised an ambulance to take C to their local hospital. This hospital confirmed the diagnosis of pneumonia and X-rays showed a partially collapsed lung with fluid. 
The local hospital did not have the paediatric specialists that were required so C was transported to the large children’s hospital here in Brisbane. On arrival she suffered cardiac arrest but was resuscitated. 
Within hours she was again heading towards cardiac arrest and the decision was made to connect her to a life support machine known as ECMO. This requires surgery to open the chest and connect the heart and lungs to the machine. This was to save her life. The medical team met with the family late Tuesday night to explain the procedures. 
That was then they broke the news to us that C had developed sepsis. Google it, it is scary. I was the only one in the family who knew about sepsis; my favourite nurse in Call the Midwife died from sepsis. In C’s case hers developed in the fluid in the lung. 
While the ECMO kept her alive, the doctors could concentrate on wiping out the sepsis and the little one was put into an induced coma. The particular bacterium causing the sepsis was identified and so they knew exactly what antibiotics to target the infection with. The sepsis has now been defeated and C came off life support on Sunday. 
It has been a nightmare as you can imagine. The family have all pulled together to help DD1 and her husband. 
The medical team are gradually changing the sedation ready to eventually bring her back to full consciousness. The sepsis damaged the circulation in her left leg, amongst other damage, and the doctors have warned the family that it is a 90% chance that C will lose the leg. We have an extremely long road to travel with our little girl and her poor parents. 
I took this photo yesterday when I was sitting with her. She is well covered up as she is on dialysis until her kidneys start to function again and apparently people get cold during dialysis. 


The staff asked my daughter to bring in loved items so the baby blankie that I made her last year when she was born, is folded ready for when she’s conscious. 

We’ve been encouraged from when she was in the induced coma to talk to her, sing to her, touch her and read to her. I do that each day. I’ve been telling her funny stories about her mummy when she was a little girl. After all, that’s what grandmas do πŸ˜‰πŸ˜. 
And this was today’s photo. 


With the change in sedation, she had been opening her eyes and today she looked straight at me for a few seconds but I don’t think she really took in who I was. Poor little love. 😞

21 comments:

Gail said...

So sorry this little one has had to undergo so much trauma. It's hard to sit by and just want them to be all perfect again. I'll be thinking of her and you as the days go by-blessed be.

Lin said...

Oh Maria - I am so sad to read this. Sending love and prayers for the little one. Like you my knowledge of sepsis comes from fiction - The Archers! - but soon after a friend developed it and was very ill. Fortunately he has recovered and was able to visit us here in France this year. Thinking of you all. xx

busybusybeejay said...

Oh dear.What a worrying time.Do keep us posted on how she progresses.Thinking about you.

Kate said...

Maria this is a dreadful thing to have happened but how wonderful that she is responding so well to treatment. Here's hoping her leg will be ok. Hugs.

Nanna Chel said...


Maria, thank goodness you were back home. What a worry for you all. Let's pray that the little one won't lose her leg. Big hugs!

Cynthia said...

Oh, Maria,I am so sorry for your sweet little one and her family. What an awful thing to happen. Sending love and prayers for healing for you all.

Maria said...

Thank you so much xx

Pink Rose said...

Oh Maria what a scare for you all sending lots of prayers and hugs for you and your precious little grand daughter. xxxx

Michelle Ridgway said...

My heart breaks for you all Maria. Love and hugs to you all xx

Maria said...

Oh Maria how scared for you all. Poor little C .. wishing her all the best for a quick recovery . Hugs to all. πŸ€—πŸ€—

Brigie said...

Goodness me, definitely a bump in the road. Wishing you all the very best of luck to come your way. Hugs to you all πŸ’ž

Denice Barker said...

hugs and prayers.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Having small grands of my own, I just can only imagine how worried you have been and still are. I'm sure all of your friends are praying for a complete and speedy recovery. Little bodies can bounce back even when we worry they won't.
so much love and prayers for you.
xx, Carol

Jackie said...

So sorry that this happened. The same thing happened to our oldest at 3 months of age. He started projectile vomiting and running a fever. We took him to the emergency room and they diagnosed bronchial pneumonia. Poor little guy was in a tent (still used them back then) and had to undergo breathing therapy every day. I cried all the way home and every day until he was back where he belonged. Took two weeks, but he is as healthy as a horse now.

I will be thinking of all of you.

God bless.

Sue (this n that) said...

Dear Maria, my heart goes out to you all and most especially your dear little granddaughter. The very best of good wishes and my warmest hugs xx

angela said...

Heartbreaking. They’re so little and there is nothin we can do except be there and pray
She’s still here and that’s the best news. I’ll be praying that the ten percent kicks in and she makes a full recovery
Lots of love to the whole family xxx

Vireya said...

Oh, Maria, how dreadful! What a worrying time for the whole family. Thank heavens for the medical knowledge that has saved her life! Best wishes for her full recovery.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

This must have been an awful shock and a terrible worry for you all. My heart goes out to your poor little granddaughter and all your family. I'm glad the doctors have managed to care for her so well. I hope she's back to herself soon and they manage to save her leg. Hugs, Janine xxx

Una said...

That is so sad to hear. My jaw dropped further and further as I read through your post. I can't pretend it will be easy, but I'm sure there is enough love in your family to overcome this.

handmade by amalia said...

I am so sorry, Maria. A big, strong hug.
Amalia
xo

R's Rue said...

Hugs.