Olivea’s Medical Expenses

Olivea was diagnosed on 11/2/22 for the first time ever with Flu strain A, having the normal symptoms of body aches, chills and fever. On 11/6, the symptoms worsened to include vomiting, high fever and mild weakness. These symptoms progressed so the doctor brought her back to the office on 11/10 and at first sight, sent her to Grand Strand ER. She was admitted due to pneumonia in right lung, place in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and a side chest tube was inserted to drain the infection. 11/11 a second infection in the right lung was found. 11/17/22 PICU doctors decided to transfer her via Medical Transport to MUSC so the Pediatric Surgery Team could assess her, where she was placed in PICU. 11/19/22 the PICU doctors chose to place her on a regular ward until the Surgery team created a plan of action. 11/22/22 Olivea had surgery to remove infection from her lung and with the aid of a scope, place a larger diameter, side chest tube. The Surgeon found a wall perforation from the necroses of the lung which was creating a pneumothorax. It will take time for the body to heal the tissue that is too fragile for surgical repair. 12/4/22 The tube was removed. 12/5/22 Olivea sent home from MUSC. 12/11/22 Olivea awoke to chest pressure and the MUSC doctors directed us to Waccamaw Hospital ER for a chest X-ray. There it was discovered her right lung had fully collapsed and another chest tube was placed. Immediately Olivea was transferred to MUSC, via Medical Transport, and again admitted. 12/14/22 a second chest tube was place in the chest cavity to remove the air pocket pushing on the lung. 12/17/22 the side chest tube was removed from the lung but the chest cavity tube remains to date. Olivea can not be released until the lung perforation heals allowed her lung to stay inflated.

At this time, Olivea returned home on 1/9/2023 but she is still under doctor's care as she will soon be undergoing another surgery to remove her chest tube.