Kayden Strong

Update: Kayden is home after a full shunt revision. If anyone doesn’t know what that means, his shunt is in his brain that drains spinal fluid. He’s having instability walking, a lot of follow-up appointments and getting in the physical therapy to correct the walking and balance coordination lost due to the brain swelling.

Kayden’s parents now have to miss another month of work to stay home with him for his recovery as he is not allowed to get sick, jump, bounce or fall backward at anytime as these will land him back on the ICU. Please continue your love, support and prayers

Kayden got sick Jan 29th, but so was the rest of the world, so the family tried to wait it out. On Jan 31st his mom took home to the ER because they have to take extra precautions with his Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus . They discharged him with an acute GI stomach bug and acute fever without doing proper tests for what he needed.

His parents called his doctors and specialists several times over the course of 2 weeks and were met with more dismissal and given gas drops and Famotidine because it was “possibly gas”

Luckily, Neurology moved his yearly follow up from March 14th to February 13th due to him being in the hospital on the 31st. For two weeks they stayed at home with him while Kayden was unable to walk, unable to sleep, unable to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, dizzy, and in severe pain as the family struggled to help him release “gas.”

On February 13th the Neuro team realized the grave mistake made by the ER weeks earlier and rushed the family to the emergency room where Kayden’s brain and ventricles were enlarged due to a shunt malfunction, cyst growing on the end of his shunt drain and causing the brain fluid not to drain but back up into his skull.

Kayden was found to have a bacteria infection called Haemophilus Influenzae (which has never been found in an abdomen) in any previous patients. It is not known how it was transported and cultivated to his abdomen. Emergency surgery was done to remove the shunt tubing, drain the cyst, and obtain cultures from the shunt and inside of Kayden’s brain where the bacterial is normally found. The shunt tubing is now external from his chest and draining bedside as to not have the bacteria spread any further.

The Sterling has been told they will be in the PICU for two weeks or more. However, since being admitted and having surgery Kayden has not progressed! Kayden is still having the same symptoms as when he was admitted.

Anyone that knows Kayden, knows he’s a fighter!!! He is a child of God and we know God will heal him!!! However, this emergency has taken a toll on Desireé & Sara’s careers. With staying by Kayden’s side around the clock, child care for the other children, food, medical bills, and the rest of life’s cost, let’s come together as family, friends, community and help them stay afloat during this time that Kayden needs them the most. Let’s give them the love and support that they would give any of us!