1/30/09 Update

This will be a very short update as we have been up for 36+ hours and are very tired. However, we want you to know what is happening.

As many of you already know, Alyssa hit a real bump in the road yesterday morning and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Rochester General Hospital. She is on a ventilator and heavily sedated and in an induced coma to keep her calm and assist in stabilizing her condition.

What happened? On Thursday morning, Alyssa awoke with a very severe headache and blurred vision. For the first time she felt really scared and expressed to mom that she knew something was really wrong. She soon became disoriented, so we called 911 and had her transported to Rochester General. Shortly after arriving in the ER, Alyssa couldn't control her right arm, as it was elevated and twitching. A nurse in the hallway noticed what was happening and told us to get to the pediatric ER immediately. Shortly after being placed into a ER treatment room, she went into a full grand mal seizure. An experience that no child go through and no parent should have to watch. We knew things had changed dramatically and that this had gone far beyond a case of HUS, which in itself was scary enough.

The next 30 hours were a blur...two more seizures, aspirating her vomit, cat scans, MRI, ventilator, numerous drugs, arterial line, neurologists, intensivists, nephrologists, hematologists, three dialysis treatments, two apheresis treatments and a great deal of praying!

What we do know...

She did not have a stroke, which was initially thought to be the case. The MRI and cat scans both several spots on the brain, but the doctors believe these should be reversible.

The seizures were probably a result of on-going high blood pressure. Meds have prevented any subsequent seizures.

She is being treated for pneumonia, kidney failure, high blood pressure, HUS, seizures, and fluids around the heart and lungs.

Alyssa is a very sick young lady, but for those who know her she is a very tenacious and strong willed person who will fight and win this battle. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

We greatly appreciate everyone's well wishes, but given the severity of Alyssa's condition, we would appreciate no visitors at this time. As soon as she is more responsive and stronger, we will let everyone know.

dd