Help Maia Recover from Her ICU Stay

The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 has been challenging with keeping our children healthy.

Our son, Michael (aka MJ) ended up getting Norovirus over Thanksgiving. The week before winter break, Maia and Malia both got Norovirus as well. Maia got it first, so dad stayed home with her. Malia was the next to get it so it was mom's turn to stay home. While caring for Malia, Maia got Norovirus again. Thankfully, Maia was still interested in nursing, but had no interest in any solids. Just needed to adjust the amount she was taking in and needing to increase the frequency to make sure she was getting the correct nutrients.

Malia was very close to needing to go to the ER because she nearly went 24 hours without eating or drinking and was only throwing up bile. Thankfully mom was smart enough to ask at the doctors to prescribe medication that would help with nausea so that she could start taking fluids again. This saved a visit for Malia. Within time, all three kids got over Norovirus in time to celebrate Christmas.

Or so we thought. On Christmas Eve afternoon - the day before her birthday, Malia started spiking fevers again. When medication wasn't helping, we went into urgent care on Christmas morning only to find out that she was gifted with an ear infection for her birthday. We got antibiotics at the only pharmacy open on Christmas day so that we could have our family dinner and sing Happy Birthday to her.

While caring for big sister's ear infection, we noticed that Maia's eating habits change again- mostly due to her congestion and not due to nausea. As the holiday went on, we saw that her breathing became more rapid and labored. She still seemed her happy self so we did our best to suction her, co-regulate her breathing, and making her comfortable during bed times. In the middle of the night however, Maia's breathing only became more rapid and labored at a relaxed state. Mom woke up dad to let him know that she would bring Maia to the Children's Emergency Department just to see what was going on.

In the wee hours of the night, Maia was tested for Influenza, Covid 19, and RSV. Her RSV test came back positive. She was monitored in the ER for her breathing and was deep-suctioned to see if there was any improvement. Within the hour, the doctors and staff felt it was best to admit her. She was immediately put on oxygen and continued to be monitored for signs of improvement. After being on oxygen for some time and still having labored breathing, it was then suggested that she go directly to the ICU where she was on a C-Pap machine so that she could get the proper oxygen levels.

While it wasn't the best way to spend the holidays, or our winter break, our family was so thankful that she was getting the help that she needed. Maia stayed in the ICU for 3 days where staff monitored her breathing and oxygen levels - gradually decreasing to the regular oxygen machine, and finally to breathing on her own.

We made it home just in time to ring in the new year. After leaving the hospital, we checked in right away with her primary doctor to learn that she had lost a significant amount of weight due to the weeks of being sick. We then had to get a tougher feeding plan to help her get her weight back as she was just barely over 12 pounds in the few days getting out of the hospital. We have been going for weight checks and follow ups every 2-3 weeks at the doctor since then. Now, 3 months since her hostipalization, she is only in the 3rd percentile for her age. She has made great progress and we can now decrease the number of follow ups since we finally achieved our final milestone of eating solids again now at 10 months of age which will significantly help with her weight gain.

With all that, our family incurred many medical bills even after insurance covering many expenses. We are asking our friends to help towards payments for our families medical bills that are not covered by insurance. In particular, Maia's hospital stay. We continue to work with insurance to look for options and are exhausting any reserves in HSA and Flex Spending Accounts - but still can't make all the payments.

Any help you can give with be a blessing for our family. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.