My Sweet 'Imi

I've told this intro to so many doctors, nurses and specialist, I've lost count.  Things have settled a bit and I can finally write about it for this blog.  I told Kyle it would be good therapy for me as well as getting support for prayers.

On Thursday, Ka'imi started having goopy eyes (I was not that concerned because she's had a little from the time she was born because of her blocked tear ducts).  On Friday, it turned from goopy to somewhat puffy and red on the skin area of her inner eye socket.  I was concerned enough to take her in to our doctor.  She prescribed eye drops for pink-eye.  I gave her the drops through the weekend, but she did not improve.  Starting Saturday she started fevering, though I did not know how high because I couldn't find our thermometer (the boys love to play with it).   Sunday night was a terrible night of no sleep, crying and higher fevers.  So, Monday, as soon as I could, I took her back in to the doctor.  She recommended we admit her to the hospital overnight to be monitored and get antibiotics through an IV.  We took her right in.
We got a room and it was time for tests to see what was going on.  It took 7 tries, 4 people and an hour and a half of Ka'imi screaming for her life to finally get an IV.  Babies this age are already hard to get an IV going because of the layers of fat they have developed.  It was seriously a living nightmare.  I felt so bad as she stared into my eyes, begging me to rescue her, but I also didn't dare let her go.  I wanted to be there for her.

We finally got the IV and another blood test.  It felt like torture after torture as they struggled to get her blood drawn and two failed attempts at getting a urine sample.  Ka'imi screaming the whole time.  The only time I let them take her away from me was to get the CT scan. They wanted to make sure the infection didn't spread into her brain or in her blood.  They explained that babies so young haven't developed their immune system completly and infections could spread easier than an older baby or child.

That first 24 hrs, I didn't really know what was going on.  I was hopeful when the ophthalmologist said she looked fine.  He thought the CT scan looked ok - that a cyst they saw on the CT scan was common.  The infection specialist disagreed and thought we should transfer to Primary Children's Hospital.

Wanting the best for her and not willing to take any chances of long-term damage, we made the transfer.  I was extremely upset, not really understanding what was going on.  I just heard a doctor say she had a cyst that looked like a third eye-ball.  Frightened and worried? yes.

It is funny to me how many people reassured me that we were going to the best hospital ever.  I think one person said, it was the happiest hospital on earth.  Our first 24 hours have been only a continuation of the nightmare.  I guess I should pause, realize and recognize that we really are blessed to have caught it relatively early and that it is as of right now a localized and superficial infection.  It could be so, so much worse.  I need to count our blessings.

But.  But . . . this poor girl has already been through so much and it only continued.  The iv she had went bad sometime during the transfer. That meant she would have to get another one.  We expressed our deep concerns to the staff, making sure they knew how hard it had been the day before to get an IV going.  Everyone said, oh, we have the very best, most experienced, it will only take one try, we promise your experience will be different this time.  Well, 5 tries, 4 people later, she finally had her IV coming out the top of her head.  They blew every vein they could see or feel in her arms, feet and hands. That is 12 times of terrible, terrible torture.  (Sorry, remember this is also me venting).

With the transfer I felt like we were two steps back - all these new nurses, doctors and specialist had to learn about her.  That meant not just me telling them what led up to this point, but more prodding and poking.  Ka'imi cried every time.  It felt like just when we got her settled from her trauma someone else was there for their turn to poke and prod.  I finally broke down and let the doctors and nurses know I was done (they were wanting to do a spinal tap next).

They finally decided that no more was going to be done that day (they were even considering surgery that day so I couldn't feed her).  We were allowed to rest as they decided what to do.

By the end of the day I finally had an understanding of what was going on and needed to happen.  Ka'imi had a cyst blocking the passage that drains her tears.  With standing tears and bacteria (bacteria that is normally present anyway), it caused the infection in her eye.  They thought it was best to just continue the antibiotics to get it past the acute phase of the infection. Then they will go in and clear the cyst and make sure the passage is clear so that it will not happen again.

Today, we will do the spinal tap with her sedated.  They don't usually, but I've made such a fuss about her comfort that they are going to.  They said it was a simple procedure without sedation and that most babies do fine, but I figured with our running luck I didn't want to chance it.

It was a rough night with seemingly endless checks and bothers.  I know they are just doing their jobs and being cautious, but a couple hours of sleep would have been nice.  The blood draw was also difficult.  I was relieved to see they weren't going to draw it with a needle, but would just prick her.  But even that wasn't so simple.  They pricked her finger only to find no blood would drip.  Three pricks to her heal, they finally got what they needed.

I feel like a mother lioness, on-edge, trying to protect my baby.  I know we are all on the same team, but boy has this been something I would not wish on anyone.  I couldn't sleep early this morning, so frustrated and upset.  I even prayed with all my energy that Heavenly Father would perform a miraculous miracle and make it all just disappear.

I feel better now.  She is sleeping and there is an end in sight.  Please keep her in your prayers.  I have already felt the power of friends and family praying in our behalf.
Thank you and please continue.