Support Kobe's Fight for Recovery

In the early hours on Sunday, July 7th, our sweet Kobe was rushed to the ER locally at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau, MO with worries of uncharacteristic fussiness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Upon arrival, it was determined that Kobe was in need of a higher level of care so he was flown via helicopter to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Again...a decision was made by their medical staff that the doctors and nurses at St. Louis Children's Hospital were better fit and equipped to handle Kobe's particular health needs. This is where he and his mother (Amber) and father (John) have been ever since. He has been admitted into their PICU.

What we know. Kobe's blood was too acidic - called Acidosis. This could have been caused by an infection or a metabolic issue. Antibiotics were administered for 48 hours. Cultures were taken and would take 2 days to find results. His hemoglobin was not shaped correctly to carry oxygen - called Methemoglobinemia. This could be an environmental cause or a genetic defect. Tests have been sent off to determine if it is genetic. That test will take 45 days for results. The diarrhea and vomiting could be secondary to the above problems. Kobe was placed on a ventilator and his brain activity was monitored indefinitely.

After 4 days of monitoring, it looked like Kobe and his family would be discharged and would be heading home Wednesday but...the Neurology team wanted one more MRI on his brain. Wednesday evening his levels were off again and Kobe suffered a stroke. He had been having ongoing seizures and had a brain bleed. Another MRI showed a large clot in the veins on both sides of his brain as well as damage to the white matter of his ventricles possibly caused by an infection. This is where we currently stand.

The amazing staff of doctors and nurses at Children's are still working diligently to pinpoint what exactly could have caused all this and are working 24/7 trying to get sweet Kobe feeling better. He will be closely monitored in the coming days...possibly even weeks. Kobe and his family have a long road ahead of them and they all need OUR help making this nightmare more bearable.

We are asking for any and all help to lessen the blow of the oncoming financial burden. Whether it be help with medical bills or food or lodging...they NEED all of you amazing people now more than ever!!