As many of you know, our baby girl was in the hospital for 21 nights during most of November. To begin, we would like to express our gratitude to all our dear friends and family. Your support has made an unforgettable impact on this experience. We continue to receive a lot of love from you all, and for many who have asked how you can help, we are using this platform to share in more detail our story and provide a way for our people to contribute to our family’s journey in healing from this all.

We brought our Lennon into the ER on November 8th with a fever, and from there, everything happened very fast. She was in septic shock and began to have respiratory distress. Thankfully the doctors moved quickly, and they were able to get her stable. Lots of tests were done to determine what was wrong. They tried for a spinal puncture but could not get a sample. She was given oxygen and antibiotics and transferred in an ambulance to the pediatric ICU at UCLA Ronald Reagan. Eventually, the doctors found signs of infection in her urine. They suspected a UTI, but since she was given antibiotics in the ER, they could not pinpoint a specific bacteria in the coming days. She was kept on an antibiotic that treats UTI, and because the risk of infection tracking to the blood and brain in newborns is so high, the infectious disease doctors did further testing. Her blood sample did grow a culture, but it was a common skin bacteria, and the doctors thought the sample might have been contaminated by her skin. She was put on another antibiotic for a staff infection. At this point, she was also on fluids, an oxygen machine, cardiac monitors, and had a tube down her throat that went into her stomach.

The doctors tried another spinal tap to rule out meningitis, as this is another big concern with newborns her age. Unfortunately, the second attempt was also unsuccessful. They did scans of her brain in the meantime and thankfully found no fluid pockets or signs of seizures. At this point, she was responding well to the antibiotics, but they didn’t know whether to keep her on for 14 days or a full 21 days, as is the typical treatment for meningitis. We agreed to allow one more shot at the spinal tap to help determine her treatment. This time the doctor was successful. The result did show signs of possible infection, although they were slight. But since there were small markers in her spinal fluid, no one could take the risk, and the team decided to keep her in the hospital for 21 days.

Along the way, we had a lot of incidents at the hospital, including a breast milk mix-up, 2 IVs falling out, MANY failed attempts at placing another IV, intramuscular shots to replace the IV antibiotics, etc. Thankfully a PICC line was placed in her leg as a more permanent solution to get her the meds. This procedure involved Lennon going under general anesthesia. Fortunately, it was very beneficial. She was getting better, her tubes came out, and she was taken off monitors. She also was able to breastfeed again. As her condition improved, it turned into a waiting game to finish out her antibiotics.

This, without a doubt, was the most terrifying and stressful experience of our lives. We slept with her in the hospital every night- Myles even slept on the floor for most of the first week until a spare recliner could be brought into our room. We are so grateful to all the doctors and nurses who went above and beyond for our family. Thank god our Lennon is okay! We are also so thankful to our family and friends who sent messages, meals, care packages, and flowers. Both our families also came to the hospital to keep us company and bring us what we needed. My mom and sister even set up a Thanksgiving buffet in the visitors' room.

On November 29th, after her last dose of antibiotics, we could go home and sleep in our own beds. Lennon gained weight and smiled through it all.

After the nights in the ICU, many doctors and consults, a million tests, IVs, sterile procedures, anesthesia, antibiotics and more- our bill is astronomical. Luckily, we have insurance, but some things were not in network. After the bills from Lennon’s birth two weeks prior to bringing her to the ER, this is very hard to pay on our own. If you want to donate to Lennon’s bills, know that anything helps. Send love and prayers that she continues to be healthy and that no further complications arise in her care! Much love.

Beau & Myles