My Poor Sick Boy!

Sorry for the lack of updates on the blog recently. Things have been so hectic and busy and life has been running non-stop! So, here's some updates!

Last week, Eli started having some spots on his body. It started with just one or two on his thigh on a Tuesday afternoon. By that evening, he had probably 20-30 spots. I ended up taking him to our after-hours clinic just to make sure nothing horrible was going on. He was also running a low-grade fever and just not acting himself. Of course, this was all going on after 8:30pm!


(We were MISERABLE!)

We got to our clinic, only to find out that they decided to close an hour early! We had to get back in the car (at which point both Eli and I were crying) and head to the other clinic our office has, about 15 minutes away. We got there around 9:30 (they close at 10) and obviously got right in and saw a doctor within minutes. He told us that he thought Eli just had a viral infection that was manifesting itself as a rash. He told us it would probably get worse, and then he would be fine.


(The 2nd day of the rash)


(His Puffy Red Hands)


(Where the rash got pretty bad)

Well, the next morning Eli woke up with the rash EVERYWHERE. And to think it still wasn't at it's worse! He went to our sister-in-law's house that day and was ok. He wasn't totally himself, and was still running the low-grade fever. The spots were everywhere, and it got to the point that he was so puffy and swollen that he could barely walk because it was hurting. His fever got worse and I ended up staying home from work the next day. He slept with me in my bed (well, attempted to sleep), and we had a rough night. He was running a high fever most of the night (over 103) and was just miserable. You could tell that he was hurting and not feeling well at all. First thing in the morning I called our doctor's office and he got in with our family doctor that afternoon. The day was pretty miserable for us. He was hurting, he was feverish, and we were tired.


(His whole face got so red)


(Arms)


(Belly - where the purple spots showed up first)


(Legs)


(Back of his thighs - where it all started)


(His back was almost all one big red spot by the time we got to the hospital)

While we were at the doctor's office, the rash got worse! We were all perplexed about what he might have. During these 3 days, Eli had hardly eaten or drank anything, so dehydration was a concern at this point as well. Our doctor did a strep test (to rule out Scarlet Fever). That came back negative, but it was just the rapid test, so they aren't always accurate right away. Eli then got a shot of penicillin to get some strong antibiotics in him. While we were at the office, the spots got bigger and redder, and then there started to be brusing (purplish/blue) spots showing up between the red spots.

Our family doctor's wife is a Hospitalist at our Children's Hospital, so he had her on the phone reviewing Eli's symptoms and our concerns. Thank the Lord for such a great family doctor and his "connections" at the hospital. After talking to his wife and noting his concerns, he had us go immediately to the Children's Hospital ER. I picked up my boy, drove home rather quickly, got Vince, and we headed out the door. When we got there, they already had our information as our doctor called ahead for us.

While we were waiting (for what seemed liked forever!) Eli started to eat and drink a little bit - Praise the Lord! This was his first substance in many days/hours. We finally got back to a treatment room and saw a slew of dotors and nurses, all of them perplexed at what was plaguing our poor little guy! Through all of this, Eli was such a trooper! As Vince said a few days ago, Eli is our HERO! He was amazing and went through so much.



After an initial diagnosis of HSP (Henoch-Schonlein Purpura - Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a form of blood vessel inflammation or vasculitis. There are many different conditions that feature vasculitis. Each of the forms of vasculitis tends to involve certain characteristic blood vessels. HSP affects the small vessels called capillaries in the skin and frequently the kidneys. HSP results in skin rash (most prominent over the buttocks and behind the lower extremities) associated with joint inflammation (arthritis) and sometimes cramping pain in the abdomen. Henoch-Schonlein purpura is also referred to as anaphylactoid purpura), the doctor's decided that they needed to get a urine sample to test the proteins in his urine to see if there had been any kidney involvement. Well, Eli isn't potty trained yet, and he hasn't been eating and drinking much at this point of the visit, so they had to do a catheter on him. MY POOR BABY!! That was awful - I was in the corner crying as Vince had to help hold him down for the procedure.

Well, the urine came back positive for protein and blood (which could have come from being catherized - they aren't sure), so they decided to do lab work and see if there was truly any kidney involvement. They decided to give Eli an IV and take the blood from there, just in case they needed to give him fluids or medication, etc. Well, that was sure a fun experience (note the WONDERFUL sarcasm!). They had to put an arm board on Eli to make sure he didn't disturb the IV. He was not liking that one bit. Everytime he tried to play with the dinosaurs they brought him, he couldn't bend his arm, and started crying and said, "OUCH, It Hurts!" Poor kiddo!



The blood work came back fine and his kidney function was perfect. So, at this point, they RULED OUT the H.S.P. because of the lab findings. They then determined in their best thoughts, it was Erythema Multiforme (Erythema multiforme is a type of allergic reaction that occurs in response to medications, infections, or illness. Most erythema multiforme is associated with herpes simplex or mycoplasma infections. The exact cause is unknown. The disorder is believed to involve damage to the blood vessels of the skin, followed by damage to skin tissues). The difficult thing is that he has symptoms of both, but not ALL the symptoms. So, unfortunately, it was only their best GUESS as that is what he had. They still didn't rule out H.S.P. entirely. So, it's still a MYSTERY, but with some conclusion (make any sense?).

We finally got home around 11:00 and had some much needed McDonalds (which Eli actually ate some food!) and got to bed. Eli slept with us again, and not much sleep was had, but we got through the night.

We had a follow-up appointment with our doctor the next day. He called us at home before his office opened to check on Eli. How many doctors would do that? Have I mentioned that we LOVE our family doctor! Vince is actually going to switch to him as well, and then our whole family will be under his care! God is so good to us! Anyway, that was my rabbit trail - sorry! We saw our doctor that afternoon and got another urine culture, and there was still some protein, but not as much, and Eli was already feeling and looking much better at this point. The swelling had gone down in his feet and he was starting to walk on his own again.

Eli went back to the doctor yesterday and got another urine culture, and no protein was present. PRAISE THE LORD! He's starting to feel SO much better, and LOOK much better, and his rash is virtually gone. He's getting back to his ornry little self again!

Thank you SO much for all your prayers. We had so many people praying for us, and we could feel those prayers. I've had so many of my friends tell me how even their kids were praying for us and for Eli, and that just warms my heart SO much. We are so thankful for our praying friends, and most of all for our Lord, the Great Physician!


(Hanging out with Daddy just a few days after being at the hospital)