Maddie’s Miracle MRI Machine

I first want to start off by saying how humbled Maddie and I are by everyone’s kindness throughout this entire hospital visit. Thank you is simply not enough.

On October 19th Maddie woke up with a fever and a sore leg. On October 20th we went to MedExpress where they speculated that she had Lyme disease and suggested she get bloodwork done Monday since it was a Friday evening. By Saturday morning Maddie’s fever was not coming down even with medication and she was unable to move or put any weight on her left leg. I took her to Children’s where quickly they recognized there was an infection, but they could not localize it. The ER doctor stated we would be admitted and they were thinking she needed an MRI, but they were uncertain when they could schedule her in to get one. They were speculating the EARLIEST they could get her in for an MRI was Monday evening. Fortunately, due to a combination of persistence and some connections within the healthcare field we were able to expedite the process to ensure she got the MRI Saturday night. The results confirmed our worst fears; Maddie had a septic hip (streptococcal A) and was scheduled for emergency surgery at 6am Sunday morning to remove the infection. Six hours post surgery it was becoming clear there was a problem. Her breathing became compromised and they were unable to stabilize her blood pressure. She was taken down to the PICU where she had an emergency intubation due to the infection being in her blood, otherwise known as Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Fast forward several days in the PICU, her numbers were still not improving. The idea of another MRI was being tossed around, this time a full body MRI. Once again scheduling became difficult until phone calls were made and a series of outside relationships got involved. Getting the attention all the way to the CEO of Children’s Hospital. Thankfully they were able to get her in for the MRI at 11pm that night. (We were told the outpatient MRIs get priority over inpatient) That MRI showed she had infection in her calf and arm. With a change in antibiotics and close monitoring she was finally on the right path towards recovery.

After 13 days she was able to have her airway extubation and be moved from the PICU. She spent 2 days on a regular floor then was moved to the rehab unit where she received PT, OT, and speech.

Thankfully, Maddie will make a full recovery and go back to a normal life. Maddie has made it her mission and goal to fundraise and bring awareness to this. It is not an opinion that minutes mattered on that Sunday- Tuesday. No child should ever have to be at risk due to inaccessibility to life saving care.