A Very Bad Week

We've had a very bad week around here. Samuel has been very sick. It started last Wed night. He was acting as if he had gas and couldn't get comfy and sleep. I held him on the couch until about 3 AM, at which point he threw up. Then the fever came upon him. He had fever on Thurs and by Friday morning, we decided he might have an ear infection. We took him to the doctor on-post and when they took his temp, it was 104.8. It went up to 104.9 and they sent us out to the emergency room.

We spent all afternoon in the ER, where they took blood twice, urine and chest x-rays. They did determine that he had an ear infection but maybe more than that. The chest x-rays and urine were clear. His white blood cell count was elevated - 40,000. They gave him an antibiotic IV and sent us home with ear drops.

Saturday morning we went back so they could test his blood again. His WBC count was at 27,000. Elevated but down from Fri. They gave him an antibiotic shot and we came home.

Mon morning, we went back to do one more shot and test, thinking we would be done then. He was feeling much better and the fever was down. BUT, his WBC count was back up to 48,900! He had already gotten his third antibiotic shot before the test results came back and we had come home. So they called us back and we discussed what it could be. Ultimately, they sent us out to Children's Mercy in KC.

We got there around 1:30 PM on Monday. They re-did the blood tests and chest x-rays. The WBC count was now down to 16,000. The chest x-ray was negative. They looked at the WBC cell types and they were all normal. The pathologist found no abnormal cells. Nothing. But the fever was coming back up and his WBC count was still higher than normal. So they did a spinal tap to rule out partially treated meningitis (since he had so many antibiotics at this point). That was a truly horrible experience. The tap came back negative. So we have done all these terrible tests on my baby and they found nothing. We left Mercy that night with no medication, no treatment, no diagnosis except a guess of adenovirus. And instructions to follow up on Wed.

Tues he was doing great. Playing, getting into trouble, no fever, eating. Wed morning, the same. We returned on post for a check. They took blood and looked him over. WBC count - 19,000. Still high. This time it also showed high lymphocytes, which indicate a virus as the Mercy doctor thought. But he seemed to be well.

Thursday morning through today - the fever has returned a little to a low grade version. He still seems pretty much ok.

In the midst of all the trauma of Sam's illness, my dear grandfather passed away. That was Sunday. His funeral was Tuesday and I was not able to be there. We kept trying to get there, but Sam just couldn't get well so we could go.

Keep Samuel in your prayers, as well as my mother's family.