ABBY'S RSV INTUBATION JOURNEY

My sweet niece, Abby, has RSV, BRONCHIOLITIS and just found out she has ARDS(acute respiratory distress syndrome). Her sputum culture came back with gram positive cocci(bacteria, typical of pneumonia), which is being treated with 2 antibiotics Rocephin and Clindamycin. She was brought in to the hospital because she was having a hard time breathing and doing the "seesaw" breathing with her abdomen and head and not maintaining her O2. They started her out on a nasal cannula, then a high flow nasal, then a nasal CPAP, however she was decompensating quickly and her lungs needed a break. Her poor body was working so hard to get any oxygen in, but she kept decompensating and they had to intubate her (put her on life support/put a breathing tube in) and put a feeding tube in at this time as well to start getting nutrients in her as she hadn't had much to eat that day due to not being able to breathe well. With ARDS, the importance is getting the pressure off her lungs by rotating her to her stomach(in her case, they are doing this for 12 hours at a time), which is improving her ability to expand her lungs. With RSV, there is no treatment other than giving fluids, oxygen support and nutrition. She is also retaining fluid, so they are concentrating her formula in the feeding tube, so she still gets the caloric intake, but not the huge volume. They are also giving her a diuretic to help get the fluid off of her, which helps relieve the pressure around her lungs for them to get to expand fully...the diuretic is Lasix, which when given, removes the fluid through urine(she will pee a lot, as she is only peeing a little at this time compared to the amount of fluid she is getting in), so they may now put in a Foley catheter to monitor her urine more closely to make sure what she intakes, she puts out in urine. Lasix also makes you secrete potassium, so they will likely have to give her potassium replacement and watch her potassium levels. They are suctioning very large mucous amounts through the breathing tube, which because they are so large and thick, they get stuck, and when it does her oxygen saturation levels drop as low as the 40% and they have to "bag" her in order to get her O2 levels back to normal while they unclog the breathing tube. During this time, she stops breathing, turns blue, and they call a respiratory code because she is at high risk of not coming back up to normal levels if they are unable to unclog the tube. They had to put her on a paralytic called Vecuronium because she kept bronchospasaming during this making it difficult to resuscitate her. She is only on a small amount, enough to calm the muscles so they don't spasm. She is also on a fentanyl drip for sedation and gets Versed IV pushes when they have to do anything with her because she moves too much and gets worked up easily. All of these are the best choices for infants as they don't have a high risk of detox issues when they come off sedation, as you would when you give them other addicting, habit-forming narcotics. Yesterday was the worst day thus far, with doing this like 4 times...it is very scary. The nurses and doctors there are very on top of everything and have been a godsend...every single one. They also have 2 doctors on the floor at all times during the day, and one at night, so it definitely feels safe being there. I hope this helps explain what's been going on.

Dad(Sean) was just laid off work Friday and has his waiting week before he can start getting unemployment and Mom(Krystyn) is taking time off work to be by her side as she is too critical to be left without parents. Since Krystyn hasn't been at her job long enough,  she doesn't have benefits,  like PTO or anything for an income.  She is attempting to do the Family Care or FMLA through the state, but unsure if she will qualify at this time.

Due to all these unforeseen circumstances,  they are in a financial need to make it through the month with bills and food. They also have 2 other daughters staying with family, and will be rotating them through family members during the hospital stay. The doctors expect Abby to be on life support for AT LEAST 5 to 7 days AND stay in the hospital a total of AT LEAST 2 weeks. This has definitely been the most difficult thing they've had to go through and they would appreciate any help they can get. If you are unable to donate monetarily, maybe you would consider making a meal or ordering them a "do or dash" meal to the hospital. Myself or my mom, Kim, would be more than happy to pick up any items to be delivered. They are also accepting kind words, prayers and thoughts, as the support has helped them get through this far...just knowing so many of you all are thinking, praying and checking in to see how they are doing. 

Thank you all in advance for any donation, whether it be money, food or kind words. You are all a blessing to us!