My four-year-old daughter Harley started showing signs of becoming ill in mid-
November of 2025. The prior week, we took our goats to a sale barn. When our goats
were being unloaded, Harley was in their stalls. At the time, we did not know that goats are
notorious for carrying Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) in their intestines. This
pathogen will not cause illness in the goats, but can cause serious illness in a child. Our
goats were most likely the source of Harley’s illness.

On Sunday, November 16th, Harley started complaining of belly pain. I took her to the
pediatrician, and he suspected a stomach bug or constipation. The next day, she was
worse, so I took her back to the doctor’s office. Again, the doctor said it was a stomach
bug and to give her Tylenol for pain. Harley was also prescribed antibiotics, but I never
had time to fill the prescription.

Once back home, Harley rested. She played a bit, but lacked energy. That evening, she
came into my room and said her poop had color in it. I asked her what it looked like, but
she did not have the words to describe it. I told her the next time she has a BM, to let
me see it. At the time, I was not concerned. That night at bedtime, I noticed how
fatigued Harley was acting.

On Tuesday, November 18th, she developed diarrhea. When I left for work, it was not
severe. My husband Brian sent me a text at 9:34 p.m. informing me that Harley’s stomach
had been hurting since 5:00 p.m. She was experiencing constant diarrhea, and it had
blood in it. I came straight home and took her to the emergency room in Searcy,
Arkansas. She was very sluggish, but not in pain. On the way there, I had to pull over
because she was screaming in pain. When she had had a BM, it had blood in it. Once
the severe pain began, she deteriorated quickly. When we arrived in the emergency
room, they gave Harley morphine and transported her to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

On the morning of November 19th, we were still in the ER at Arkansas Children’s. I had
been up all night waiting for them to figure out what was going on with Harley. She still
had constant diarrhea and continued to scream out in pain with each BM. They
continued to give her pain medication. Brian finally arrived, and I was able to take a short
nap but woke up when the doctor came into the room. She was being admitted to the
hospital, and this is when our nightmare began. Harley was diagnosed with STEC.

The next day, November 20th, the STEC infection had developed into a rare childhood
disorder called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Harley deteriorated quickly and was
heading into complete kidney failure. She went from sitting up to not being able to hold
herself up when she had a BM, to just being so weak that she could barely move. When
they sedated her to put in a PICC line and dialysis catheter, she ended up being on a
ventilator for 11 days.

Harley had a severe case of HUS. Small blood clots had formed in her brain, causing
neurological symptoms. This is why she was on the ventilator so long. She was given a
drug called Soliris to help protect her brain from damage.

Harley spent a total of 44 days in the hospital. She had 30 days of dialysis, both CRRT
and hemodialysis. She received 5 blood transfusions and 2 platelet transfusions. She also experienced an inflamed gallbladder, which caused severe pain and non-stop crying.

Harley was released from the hospital on January 2, 2026. It was such a happy day. I
feel so blessed that she is alive. At this time, she has stage 4 chronic kidney disease.

We are hoping that by her 6-month nephrology appointment, she has moved into stage 3 or
higher. Her kidneys are still healing. She also still needs to take blood pressure
medication.

We have only been home for three weeks. Harley’s hospitalization was very traumatic
for her. She experiences frequent nightmares. She gets anxiety anytime she hears loud
noises or is in her room by herself. She is very afraid of people. She seems depressed. As a family, we have a lot of emotional healing to do.