Harper’s Story

Last weekend, Oct 19, 2019, Harper began having symptoms of a stomach bug…abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. We did what anyone is told to do with stomach viruses…watched her symptoms, let it run its course, and encouraged her to drink fluids, while hoping no one else in the family would catch it. On Tuesday she started experiencing bloody diarrhea, which we knew was cause for concern. It’s common with constant diarrhea. We called her pediatrician and were advised to monitor it and if it continued to bring her in the following day. We took her in to be seen on Wednesday and were sent to the ER with a white blood cell count of 51,000.  Unfortunately, her lab results were very concerning, and this started the long journey that we are on now. While in the ER, we were asked if Harper had been to a petting zoo and we answered, no.  Due to her extremely high white blood cell count, we were sent by ambulance to the ER at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham on Oct 23, 2019. Doctors here also asked if Harper had visited a petting zoo or played with farm animals and it hit me that we went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch the Wednesday before, Oct 16, 2019, where she played with and fed the goats.  Since being at Children’s, labs have confirmed that Harper contracted an E. coli infection, specifically, E. Coli O157:H7.  This is the Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli, or STEC. This strain is naturally found in the intestines of healthy animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats and can shed the bacteria through their stool and can contaminate their skin and fur and anywhere they may roam. As stated above, this is why we were being asked about petting zoos. The doctors told us that STEC contamination in small children was commonly traced back to a patient’s visit to a petting zoo. Most people who contract STEC will fight the infection with no complications, but due to the Shiga toxin, an extremely small percentage will develop a condition known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).  This condition affects the blood and blood vessels, resulting in the destruction of blood platelets (cells involved in clotting), a low red blood cell count (anemia) and kidney failure due to damage to the very small blood vessels of the kidneys.  Once you have come into contact with STEC, symptoms of HUS start three to four days later. Harper came into contact with this E.coli on a Wednesday and her symptoms started Saturday. Since HUS has caused Harper’s kidneys to temporarily stop working effectively (acute kidney failure) she requires hemodialysis to do what our kidneys normally do, which is rid our body of toxins and fluids. Ideally, this should only be a temporary treatment plan as it allows her kidneys to heal.  She will be monitored continuously in the hospital for at least three to four weeks as the doctors have already warned us that her symptoms will worsen before they improve. This will be a long recovery process with uncertain short and long-term outcomes.

She was on hemodialysis for a few weeks, CRRT for 11 days. She had 9 blood transfusions. She had pancreatitis. She had a massive GI bleed. She was delirious due to lots of pain. She had to have a chest tube put in to drain her lungs and was monitored for seizures with the EEG while on a ventilator. She was on paralytics and pain meds. 30 days in the hospital.

Admitted October 23, 2019 and discharged November 22, 2019.

Harper was discharged on blood pressure medicine and has been on it for 4 years. She had follow-up every 3mo, then every 6mo, now annually. 

 **This all started from an innocent trip to a pumpkin patch with cute farm animals. There is no blame to be placed on anyone. All children (and adults) love to play with and feed the animals, and these places are usually great about having hand sanitizer readily available for when we are done. We squirt some in our hands and have the false belief that this washes away any germs we may have picked up. But hand sanitizer is not enough. It is so important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterward.  Plus kids are always so quick to touch their face or put their hands in their mouth even before sanitizing or washing hands. My girls always wash their hands at home, because we don’t buy hand sanitizer, but in public when it’s available, sometimes hand sanitizer is just easier. Not anymore!! For kids in general, it is always a good idea to just wash their hands. We have become all too comfortable with just using hand sanitizer with small children because it’s easy and convenient, but soap and water is always a more effective way to clean their little hands. 

For with God, nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37