Less Than 10%...REALLY!

After about 2 hours of sleep Casey and I made our way to our sweet baby. He was resting somewhat comfortably in his ginormous crib. We knew one thing for sure. He had a shunt infection and they are extremely dangerous. You do not mess with infections in your cerebral spinal fluid.

Here are some facts about Parker's infection:

1. Parker contracted Staff Aureus
2. Staff Aureus is on everyone's skin
3. 30% of healthy people carry Staff Aureus and have no symptoms
4. Staff Aureus is super sneaky and gets in through open wounds through air droplets or direct contact with someone contaminated from the bacteria
5. Parker could have given it to himself (ironic)
6. Less than 10% of patients contract an infection. Naturally, Parker would. :-/

Neuro Surgeons have told us that when people with shunts do contract an infection it usually looks like this. At the end of the day he more than likely got it from the hospital. You put him at risk for infection when he has surgery, but without the surgery he wouldn't have lived. It's a no brainer when you think about it. In life we take all kinds of risks. This risk saved Parker's life ultimately.

Bacteria entered Parker's body and grabbed on to the shunt. Apparantely Staff Aureus tends to cling to plastic and wouldn't you know - Parker's shunt was plastic. They quickly decided to put Parker on an Antibiotic Cocktail that would consist of 4 different medicines. Before they knew what kind of bacteria was growing the mixture of this particular cocktail would ensure it wouldn't grow further (hopefully) and give his body a chance to start to fight.

So, if the cocktail fights off the bacteria why did they have to remove the shunt? Antiobiotics only kill bacteria in living organisms. Since last time we checked the shunt didn't have a heart beat they had to remove it knowing the bacteria would continue to cling on for dear life. When they are ready to put in a new shunt they will place it on the opposite side in clean uninfected brain tissue. So, he will have two new scars to match his old ones. Lord knows what he will come up with when people ask him about them. With Casey's help I'm sure it will be funny.

They aren't absolutely certain where the bacteria started. He had two incisions - brain and belly. His belly was extremely agitated to the point where you would think he had a ruptured appendix when doctors examined him in the ER. So, my gut tells me something got in the belly and made it's way up to the brain. His incisions always looked great. Never infected or red. Seriously we caught this fairly quickly, thank the Lord.

The Infections Disease specialist visits us, daily. He is a plethera of information. We grill him so now he knows to just come on in and sit on the couch. Very wise that specialist. He knows a thing or two about germs, obviously, and has yet to shake our hands! He does not mess around! The specialist explained that there really wasn't anything we could have done to prevent it and it could happen again - terrifying. I asked questions like, "Should I like sanitize my entire house?"

He replied, "Nope."

In situations like this you would think sanitizing everything would be required. Apparantely it makes absolutely no difference. Just know that if you visit Parker you will be required to sanitize your hands. Even when we go home. Otherwise you will not be allowed to enter. I think I will have signs printed for our door.  Because this bacteria is airborne - if you are coughing, sneezing or spitting around my child I will smack you. Shoulda had a V8 style!

At this point Parker has been in the hospital for 3 days. His fever has gotten as high as 103, which is not good. His little cheeks are chapped and red. His lips are also chapped. Poor little baby. Neuro kids tend to have high fevers. Messing with their little brains causes that. On top of that he also has one heck of an infection so it's a lot going on in that little body of his. Every time I sit and reflect on what's going on with him I am overwhelmed with his strength at such a young age. I complain when I have a migraine or three stitches from getting a mole removed from my leg. Seriously get over it. The only person who can relate to Parker is his aunt. She has beem through icky brain stuff too.

His fever curve is an indication on his infection and how he's responding to treatment. At this point we've been told he will need antibiotics for at least two weeks and then they will discuss if they should move further with the shunt surgery. At the end of the day we are now practically living in Iowa City so it doesn't matter. The hospital has great resources and hotel discounts for people in our position. We pled our case to the hospital hotel and hopefully we can get in there in a couple weeks. NICU and PICU parents are highest priority for the rooms since our stays are longest. Casey is more than likely going to be going back and forth a couple times a week so when I am here alone I'd definitely feel safer if I could stay onsite.

One of the toughest things about Parker's situation right now is that I can't hold him. He has an external cathedar draining his brain fluid into a little bag. The device on the outside has to remain level with his ear. If it's not then all that fluid will either go back into his head or come rushing out. He looks at me with those baby blues with his arms out and I know he just wants his Momma to pick him up and snuggle him. Like I said earlier, I've gotten pretty good at being in his crib so he still gets contact with me. That and I kiss him 3984384738473 times a day. Nothing can replace a snuggle with your baby. Absolutley nothing. When I am not at his side in the hospital I have severe anxiety. At least his babysitters know CPR, though...

Even with our situation I took holding him and snuggling with him for granted. Now I feel so guilty for those times when I didn't just stop what I was doing and pick him up when he was fussy. It's true, the dishes, laundry, shopping, etc. can all wait. I will never get those moments back with him. Do not take one moment with your children for granted. It can change in an instant. I still feel that emptiness in my heart even though I can touch and see him.

I wouldn't wish this on any mother. Nothing pains me more than seeing mothers out with their healthy babies. I turn on Facebook and I immediately see posts of everyone's children enjoying visiting the Easter Bunny or playing outside. It's an intense pain unlike any other. I am jealous. I am angry. I am heartbroken. It always goes back to the "why us" and I can't do that. Being like that does absolutely nothing for Parker. This poor baby has yet to spend a holiday at home and it looks like we will be celebrating his 4th month "birthday" just like his 3rd. In the hospital. Hopefully my angel can see the Easter Bunny next Sunday. I am sure we can arrange that. After all, he is unfortunately joined by 100s of other sick kids. Illness doesn't wait around for holidays or milestones to be over before it rears it's ugly head.