CLASBI

Terran got his first fever Wed night. Our thermometers (forehead and rectal) were bouncing all over the place giving us readings from 98 to 101, with no consistency. We settled on 100.8 as his most accurate reading. After calling the hospital twice, we were assured that the threshold was 101 to bring him in and it was OK to sleep and check again later. We woke up to 103 and rushed to the hospital. We find out later that the threshold for central line kids is actually 100.4, and we shouldn’t have gone back to bed. I’m kicking myself because I should have known that but I also thought I was doing my due diligence by calling the nurses and taking their word. Forever more – 100.4 is burned in my brain.

We spend 9 hours in the ER where Terran got lots of blood drawn for various tests, hoping to rule out a Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLASBI). To confirm a CLASBI, blood culture tests are done which can take up to 48 hours for results. Terran was started on antibiotics immediately (just in case). With a little SCH inpatient experience under my belt, I knew that TPN orders had to be filled by 12pm to be delivered that day. We learned we’d be admitted around 11am and I asked the nurse if we could get the order in. She jumped on it and Terran had his TPN ready to go when he needed it that night – the fastest ever (Thank you, Nurse Stephanie)!

Once we’re moved to the inpatient room, doctors and nurses are in and out for a solid 3 hours, assessing him, making a treatment plan, and communicating with us what the possibilities are. He was given extra fluids and added an extra antibiotic because by then the blood cultures came back positive and we had a better idea of what exactly was going to work. It’s official! We’re experiencing our first CLASBI. Left untreated, the bacteria would take over the bloodstream and Terran would die. That’s why it’s so important to get him into the hospital ASAP, where the infection can be treated with very high success rates. Line infections are so common that the LIFT team told us early on “he will get one, it’s only a matter of time”. Terran was in pretty bad shape by Thursday night, but the treatment was working and he was his normal self by Friday morning, talking and squirming in his jail crib (seriously, the cribs here are made of metal and look like they belong on Alcatraz).

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

He’s been his active normal self since then, but the treatment takes a while to clear everything from his blood so we’ll be here at least a few more days. Best case scenario: his blood cultures come back negative for the next 2 days and then we’re trained on antibiotic infusions and sent home to finish out the treatment. Worst case scenario: his blood cultures stay positive, indicative of bacteria adhered to his line, and he needs the line replaced. It’s so new and he has limited pathways to use over his life that we’re REALLY hoping that’s not the case. The team here is trying everything they can to avoid that.

In the meantime, we’re trying to entertain a nearly 6-month old within the 4 walls of a hospital room (not easy!). Walker is going to work this next week so he’ll be here in the evenings but otherwise sleeping at home. He’ll have his hands full with our newly-diagnosed diabetic dog Moxie who needs to be let out every couple hours and given insulin shots 2x daily. Our family is needy! 😀 That leaves Mama and Terran alone in the hospital for nights and days, so wish me luck!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff at SCH for taking such good care of our baby Terran. We owe you his life.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to our generous friends sending food, books, and toys to keep our bellies and brains happy. Your kindness brings so much warmth. We love you <3

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

P.S. Becca come find us! 🙂