At the end of June, my sweet boy Jonathan suddenly became very sick. On Friday, July 4th, I took him to the ER, where I learned he was in respiratory failure due to severe bilateral pneumonia, dehydration, an uncontrolled high fever, and dangerously low sodium levels (hyponatremia). His breathing was extremely rapid—nearly 60 breaths per minute—and his oxygen levels were dipped into the 80's which then needed supplemental oxygen right away.

Due to the seriousness of his condition, Jonathan was transported by ambulance to a larger hospital an hour and a half away. What I hoped would be a short hospital stay quickly turned into something much more frightening.

After two days of IV antibiotics and fluids, instead of improving, Jonathan began to decline. He developed sepsis from the pneumonia, and by Sunday, July 6th, his fever had spiked to 103.8°F. That evening, he began hallucinating and talking to people who weren’t there. His care team grew increasingly concerned he might be developing acute encephalopathy. They ordered an urgent MRI and a lumbar puncture to test for encephalitis.

Over the next couple of days, things only got worse. Jonathan experienced dizziness, slurred and abnormal speech, eye deviation, double vision, and serious coordination and behavioral changes. The doctors determined it was critical to get a CT scan right away to check for increased pressure in his brain while we waited for the MRI and lumbar puncture.

That night, he continued to suffer from altered mental status and vomiting. When the MRI and lumbar puncture results came in, they confirmed our fear: Jonathan had encephalitis. He was placed on strict neurologic rest, and an EEG was done to make sure he wasn’t having silent seizures. Thankfully, the EEG was normal.

By Thursday, Jonathan finally began to turn a corner. He started eating and drinking again, and I truly believe that relieving some of the pressure in his brain during the lumbar puncture gave his body the space it needed to start healing. A pediatric physical therapist evaluated him and confirmed he would need outpatient therapy to help regain strength, coordination, and motor skills.

On Friday July 11, Jonathan was medically safe to go home, though he's still struggling with walking, speaking clearly, and focusing. His care team will be monitoring him closely in the weeks ahead, and we’re hopeful he’ll continue to heal and get back to his old self.

As a single parent, this experience has been incredibly overwhelming. Between the extended hospital stay, ambulance transfer, testing, therapy needs, and follow-up care, the medical bills are already adding up. I’ve also had to take two weeks off of work—unpaid—to care for Jonathan during this crucial stage of his recovery.

Anyone who knows me, this is extremely hard for me to do, but I’m humbly asking for help. Whether through a donation or by sharing our story, any support will go directly toward Jonathan’s medical expenses and ongoing care.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, prayers, and generosity during this difficult time. I’m so grateful for every bit of support!

With heartfelt thanks,

Mandi-

Jonathan’s Mom