Chloe's Long Journey to Recovery

Chloe is the most amazing 2 yr old around. She was born with a rare condition called Caudal Regression Syndrome. Her spinal cord did not form completely, therefore causing problems with her bladder and bowel, for which we catheterize her intermittently and use laxatives for bowel control. She also has mobility problems. This has not stopped her from amazing her doctors who could not begin to tell us the amazing things she would be able to do. She has had physical therapy since birth. Later, she started occupational therapy, speech therapy, and developmental therapy. She likes to army crawl around the house while she gets into everything. Chloe just got her new favorite toy "the zipzac chair" which is like a bike to her and is giving her newfound freedom while her wheelchair is being built. Chloe was just learning how to use a walker, using her dogs as encouragement. Then... Our world turned upside down as our baby girl became sicker than ever. On May 13, Chloe started getting sick. After performing every intervention at home, we went to the ER. During the night Chloe continued deteriorating until she went into septic shock. She was transferred to Ann and Robert H. Lurie's Children's Hospital via helicopter where they've been working hard to save her life since. She was intubated upon arrival and had a tube in every place possible. Sadly, possibly during shock, her body was shutting down and not receiving oxygen for a very long time, and Chloe had significant strokes. As Chloe is stabilizing, the breathing tube has been taken away, and IV lines as well. Only time will tell what kind of damage the strokes have caused to her little body. We are hoping that her age will work for her in her recovery. We are still in PICU. I don't know what to say about how she looks. She just isn't Chloe yet. She isn't responding to visual or auditory cues. She isn't trying to move much. It is like she's a newborn again. Later, though, we expect, she will transfer to Rehab Institute of Chicago for intensive therapy which will hopefully give her the best chances for recovery. so....therapy, therapy, and more therapy.