Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Skylar is my 4 1/2 year old Grand daughter. She has been battling, off and on, infections and ear infections for almost a year. In the fall, her doctor recommended having tubes put in her ears. This was supposed to eliminate the infections and the illnesses that went with them, so my son and his wife decided to go ahead and have it done. Skylar got extremely sick again last weekend with spiking temps and the same symptoms that went with the ear infections. Skylar spent yesterday at Akron Children's Hospital (Akron Ohio) getting an IV for some very aggressive antibiotics and having some cultures taken to be looked at by the Infectious disease specialist. They kept the IV in her arm so that she could have a second round of antibiotics today without having to have a second "stick".
The preliminary culture was faxed to Dr.
Bower's (Infectious disease specialist) yesterday at 2. The final
will not be ready until tomorrow and they'll fax to Dr. Bower. The
reason is because the bacteria they found is under a microscope right
now. They are watching to see if it is growing. Most bacteria look
the same, but they'll be able to determine what it is this way
(called sensitivity test). It could be a wide variety of strep or
staff. These bacteria are present in everyone, but some people can't
fight them off.
The antibiotic she is being treated with now is a very aggressive one
and is offered in shot form, but it hurts bad and is very painful. So
they were lucky the IV transfusion was available to Skylar yesterday and
today.
The worst case scenario is that these bacteria are not responsive to
oral meds. She would need to be treated for it via IV or shot (like
she is being treated now). These meds are available this year, but
it's been a rough year with availability on meds, so next year may be
different. I think this means that every time she would get sick, we
could go through the IV treatment or shot.
The tests being done will also determine if she has an immune deficiency - which would explain
why she is sick so much, the bad last year we had, and also why she
can't fight it off. So she is faxing all the paperwork to Dr. Bower.
So this isn't over yet. They did ask if once white blood cells are
considered "normal" if that could ever change. The answer is no. They
would elevated, but they don't find leukemia in kids until different
ages because at that point the body starts not being able to fight it
anymore - it's always either there or not. And there are different
types of it as well.
There are also different types of immunity issues. We should have
answers by tomorrow on more things, but the immunity tests will be a
week before they get them back - they are sent out to CA I think for
testing.

Please say a prayer or keep Skylar in your thoughts.

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Gwen & the Zu Kru
Aimee Kylie Jazz & Dakota
Taz(all white Kitty)
Sadie, Luke, Kianna & Jessie at the Bridge
Fill your life with love ~ adopt a greyhound

Oh Gwen how awful. That poor little thing. Of course you have prayers and they will continue until that sweet girl is healthy.

Keep us posted. Skylar will go to the top of the prayers list. This is hard enough on an adult who understands. I cannot imagine what she is thinking or going through.

Give her a hug.
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Toni

Luke (ALE J Hawk Chris
Mike (ALE J Hawk Mike)

Waiting at the Bridge Lucy (Noble Rapids)

Prayers on the way for Slylar.
Eileen
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Eileen,Spencer and Tracy

Prayers on the way for Skylar, Gwen; she's at the top of my prayer list, too. {{{Skylar and everyone who loves her.}}}

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Janie
Mom to Katie, Pansy, Ghost and Bea

Waiting at the Bridge:
Lola, Nancy, Vinka, Max and Dart-Greyhounds
Dragon-Cockapoo; Judge Dee-Chow Chow
Ginger Elvira Katt-Maine Coon cat

Prayers on the way.
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Karol
Erin GST#297,Stoney GST#335,Dorian GST365
At the Bridge Myste GST#116 Christopher Robin GST#279

Awww Gwen, how scary for you and your family! It sounds like she is getting good care and hopefully some answers will be coming. It is so hard to watch little ones who are sick. Sometimes it seems medicine is more of an art than a science and we don't get answers. Hopefully if nothing is determined, this may be something she grows out of. When my son was little, he was plagued with ear infections and the ent recommended tubes. We actually held off and amazingly that was the last ear infection he had. We will be thinking of all of you and praying for your little sweetheart!

Cindy, Colby, & Bayou

Gwen and family-
I am certainly going to keep Skler in my thoughts, and wish for her a simple recovery from her continuing ear infections. Please keep us updated. Sending great bigs hugs to the entire family.

Cheryl and Silly Girl
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Cheryl
Silly Girl and Sam
Allie Oops- gone but not forgotten

OMG, what a beautiful little girl she is Gwen. She and her family will certainly be in my prayers. I pray the Drs can find the right answers and get to the bottom of this.
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Ruth and the greys, Lauren, Ty, Sunshine and Walter
Glory at the Bridge (forever loved and missed)
Let a greyhound race into your heart

Gwen. Prayers going out for Skyler and the entire family. Hope they can find the problem and correct it quickly.
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Harry and the kids
Nancy's daughter, Pansy,
Katie, Bea, & Ghost with Lexie, the foster
Lola @ the bridge
Nancy @ the bridge
Vinka @ the bridge
Max @ the bridge
Dart @ the bridge

Adopt a Greyhound, I did 9 times

Oh my.. that poor little baby!! Prayers on the way for a very speedy recovery. Please let us know how she's doing.
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Joy J with
Lilly, the greyhound,
Rascal and Rex, cairn terriers, and
Mackie, the scottie

Lots of prayers for Skylar.
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Nancy with Markie, Lana and Brooke, the pups
Zeta and Preston, the kitties

Gone from my life but not my heart: Zach, Gizzy, Maggie, BoBo, Cleo and Jakob

Any news yet, Gwen? We had a neighbor go through a very similar thing, but it was related to bladder and kidney infections (a 6 year old). It took several hospitalizations, and IV antibiotics for several weeks (through a line they left in, so it really wasn't too bad) and they finally knocked it out. Another person I know just went through the same thing with ear infections in a little guy who isn't even 2 years old. He had to be hospitalized over Christmas for a few days, but is doing totally fine now. I think once they nail down what the bacteria is, they'll be able to treat it. I hate that she's going through all this at such a young age, and I'll keep you all in my thoughts. Hopefully by now, they've figured some things out and are on the road to treatment!
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Brooke
Annie and Raven (greys)
Mike and Stuart (kitties)

Thoughts and prayers going her way Gwen!
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Melody/PHFasDog

My furkids:

The Kitten Kids Clark and Chloe

Kira, Jadzia, Lyta and Shadow waiting at the bridge.

Dogs and cats come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

I will keep Skylar in my thoughts and prayers Gwen.
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Michael, Jitterbug and Kay
Bridgekids Apollo and Katie

Gwen
I just read your post about Skylar..Prayers are being said of course..for a quick and complete recovery. Poor baby..she and Julia are almost the same age and I know how Julia would re act under similar cicumstances. Josh had ear tubes put in last spring at 18 months old and they have helped a lot..he had been having recurrent ear infections and very high fevers before they were placed. Allan had a rare type of bacteria infection in his IV access line a few weeks ago and when they isolated the exact bacteria and treated it with a anti biotic that was specic for THAT bacteria..it cleared up nicly..but he was in the hospital with IV antibiotics for 5 days until they got a clear blood culture and then oral anti biotics for 3 weeks..but he is a tough old bird not a little 4 year 9old who doesn't understand...hopefully by now they will have isolated Skylars "bug" and she will be just fine. BTW Gwen.. she is just gorgous!
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Joan,Allan and our Braveheart Maxx at the Bridge