I, proud father of Kimi

[springrite]

Yesterday afternoon, Kimi suddenly had a high fever. We took her to a hospital and she had medicine and fluid put into her. When she stablized, we came home. In the car just before we got home, we took her temp and it was 38c. Not too bad. But a few seconds after she got home, she suddenly went into seizure and she was like a fireball. I used my limited medical knowledge and immediately used lots of alcohol to cool her body. She had two seizures within 10 minutes, each lasting about 3 minutes. By that time Vanessa has called the ambulance and we took her back to the same hospital. Her life was in danger at that point. After some emergency procedures she stablized again.

At about 3 am we transfered her to the International Children's Hospital, the best pedi hospital in China. That took some past midnight telephone calls to people I have good connections with and needless to say lots of cash. She had a viral infection and the doctors feared that it has infected her brain. They gave her a spinal tab in the morning.

Once again, Kimi fought very very hard. At this time, I just got home having had no sleep and no food for more than 24 hours. But I am happy in the knowledge that brain infection has been ruled out. She will be kept in the hospital for about a week and we need to monitor her temp every 15 minutes and never allow it to go over 38c. There were some tough battles today and we kept it at 37.9. At 38 she might have another seizure and possible brain damage.

I will sleep for about 6 hours tonight and go back to get Vanessa off the shift. But Kimi is more or less out of danger now.

Do pray for her. Thank you all.




PS: I did buy a pack of cigarrette and smoked about half a pack. Please do not hit me over the head for this. Now the worst appear to be over, I do plan to get back on the quiting plan.

[Novi]

Can't even imagine the worry you and your family must be going through, springrite. What a relief to hear that Kimi is relatively stable now. Don't forget to take care of yourself either.

[karlhenning]

Do pray for her.

In glad compliance here.

[Brünnhilde ewig]

Paul, you can be assured of my loving and supportive thoughts being with you. 

Kimi has proved in the past that she is a fighter, she'll get through this crisis also. 

Kimi and Vanessa need you as relaxed as possible, not as frazzled and fidgety, having the desire for a cigarette foremost on your mind. Go ahead, do have that smoke without a guilt feeling!

Lis

[Dr. Dread]

I'm keeping her in my thoughts. Don't worry about the smokes.

[Harry]

Just saw your message Paul, and I was and still am shocked from what I read. My love and prayers go your way, and whatever strenght you need from me, its yours.
Little Kimi is in my thoughts every moment of the day.

[SonicMan46]

Paul - sincerely hope that all goes well w/ Kimi - infections in infants can really have dramatic generalized effects.  When our son was about 1 y/o (back in the mid-70s), he caught a viral infection, developed a high fever, and pretty much became comatose - he had a spinal tap in the ED, which was also negative, but was admitted (to the hospital where I was doing my residency); fortunately, he was smiling & jumping in the hospital crib w/i a couple of days - really scary, so I can understood your feelings.  Good luck - Dave

[Anne]

Hi Paul,

The pictures of Kimi are so cute!  She's a little Doll.  So sorry to hear about her illness and hope she continues to improve.

Take care!

[springrite]

I am home for 5 hours to get some sleep before I go back for the overnight shift. During her second day in the hospital, Kimi's temps are generally higher than the first day, peeking at 39.4 when I was there. We managed to get her back to below 38 usually within about 15 minutes. I was worried as her body begin to twitch but it did not develop into full blown seizures. My feeling is if we get her over the night tonight on my shift, she should begin to improve. We are near the bottom now, maybe about to pass it. This morning there was some irregularities in heart beat and T wave, but that is probably temporary condition due to the virus. We will check that 2 weeks after she recovers.

One line that has a calming effect on her is "Kimi, trust daddy. "

[Joe Barron]

Sorry if my previous (deleted) post seemed callous. I was skimming over the photos and completely missed your post about Kimi's condition. i am keenly sympathetic to reports of sick children, for reasons it would be insensitive to talk about now. I don't pray, but I am pulling for the little one. Keep us posted when you find the time, Paul.

[Szykneij]

Paul, my son suffered a feveral seizure when he was about Kimi's age. He was rushed by ambulance to our local hospital and then transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston. That episode was the most frightening experience of my life, so I can empathize with your current situation. The good news is, everything turned out fine and my boy is now a strapping 15 year-old quarterback/lacrosse player. I have faith things will turn out equally as favorably for Kimi. You have my prayers. -- Tony

[springrite]

Tony, thank you for the encouragement. Kimi is doing better.

Joe, no offense taken at all. I have not subjected Kimi to Carter yet. I am sure I will someday but I am not optimistic about the outcome. 

[Joe Barron]

Joe, no offense taken at all. I have not subjected Kimi to Carter yet. I am sure I will someday but I am not optimistic about the outcome.  

She'll probably like Michael Jackson. 

I am glad to read her condition has improved.  Another friend of mine has a young son who is suffering from severe acid reflux. Now I can go back to worrying about him full time.

[springrite]

She'll probably like Michael Jackson.

She does. She was dancing to it last month. In classical music, she likes piano music and seems to like opera as well. I have only played some 20th century stuff for her and she seemed intrigued by Webern and she likes Adams. But generally speaking she likes rythmic music which may be the reason why she liked Adams. She likes music she can dance to. Of the voices she likes low male voices, maybe because I sing for her a lot so she likes the mature male voice.

Last night she slept well with no fever. The fever came back in the morning but was quickly knocked back. For the first time, Kimi is getting the upper hand!

[springrite]

Two images stick in my mind. The first is the look in Kimi's face when I held her down so that doctors or nurses could proceed with a medical procedure. But the most devastating look is when the nurses were holding her down, with me looking on. Kimi would stuggle hard, trying to get loose. But when she realised that it won't work, she would suddenly stop struggling, look up at me, and then stick out an accusing finger pointing at me, and tears run down her face as she cries, as if saying: "Oh, daddy, How could you? How could YOU? How could you let them do this to me and you just look on without helping me free?" It tears my heart! When it is done, I'd hold Kimi in my arm and talk to her, telling her we were all trying to help her. "Trust daddy, Kimi." After a while, she'd forgive me and put her head into my chest, and eventually look up at me and smile.

[springrite]

Kimi has recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital and come home! She's lost a bit of weight, with her ribs showing in places, but otherwise she's in very good spirit, smiling all the time. It will take a week or so to get her more or less back to normal. She can't eat most food right now other than the baby formula. But that will get her weight back up and give her the energy she needs.

Thank you all.

I slept about 16 hours in a week. I am off to catch some sleep.

[karlhenning]

Kimi has recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital and come home!

[Henk]

Glad to hear Kimi is getting better. Quite a worrying situation you had, Springrite. Are this the first signs of her enjoying music? Is dancing the first reaction of a baby hearing music?

Henk

[vandermolen]

Thinking of you. V glad to hear of Kimi's progress 

Jeffrey

[Joe Barron]

*heaves a big sigh of relief*

Interesting: the friend I mentioned earlier, whose son is sufering from acid reflux, had an experience silimar to yours, Paul. The boy was being held down for a procedure, and he looked up at his father with that same epxression, as if to say, "How can you let them do this to me?"

Maybe nothing of the kind was contained in the expression. Maybe the meaning arises from the parent's own sene of empathy and helplessness.