Thursday 2/18 Update: 

The feeding tube and IV are out and little Megan is going home!!!

Update from Melissa’s Facebook post on Friday 2/12/21

“Megan Update - Today was a great day filled with big steps for Megan. Her lab results came back and she does indeed have botulism. We are happy to know a definitive diagnosis and that she will be able to fully recover. We are so thankful for the fast actions of the doctors in ordering the drug to counteract this horrible disease. The doctors and nurses in the PICU have been beyond amazing and they already feel like family to us. 

Other exciting news- Iv fluids were turned off, started larger feeds, had PT, suck/swallow eval, and music therapy. We saw smiles and even heard her little voice for the first time in a week. She still has a long way to go but is showing such growth! Many happy tears were shed today... God sure is good! Many special angels are watching over our baby girl ”

Wednesday 2/10 From Melissa: 

“Megan Update - some big milestones for miss Megan from last night and today - she was able to move her arm up to her mouth, she got a bath, we were able to hold her and she got to put her pjs on.

The doctors are pretty much in agreement now that what we are dealing with is something called infant botulism. Here’s the online definition - 

“Infant botulism is a rare bacterial infection that occurs in the large intestine of babies. It develops when a baby ingests C. botulinum spores, which are present in honey and soil. Infant botulism causes muscle weakness, which can lead to difficulty eating and breathing.” 

It’s an extremely rare disease and it looks like Megan ingested the spores. Because her immune system and gut are not fully developed at this age her body could not handle the spores like we could. We’ve come to the conclusion that these spores made it home on either marks work clothes, tools, or simply just in his car that she rides in sometimes. We are devastated that this has happened to our healthy and happy baby girl. 

****The most AMAZING news though- she will make a full recovery!!! It’s going to be a long road and can take over 8 weeks for her to gain back all her abilities that she previously had. We will be in the hospital until breathing, sucking, swallowing, and eating prove to not have any complications. She will most likely come home on a feeding tube. But SHE WILL COME HOME, and that is what matters the most. The other discussed diagnosis’ did not have happy endings. We are still waiting for the lab results but the doctors are feeling confident we are dealing with infant botulism. Our hearts are broken watching her but we are going to take it one step at a time and celebrate each small step she makes to a full recovery. (Which we will definitely be sharing with all of you)! Megan is such a fighter and is working so hard! Please continue praying for our baby girl.”

Seeing how long the road to recovery will be and that Melissa and Mark will be by her side throughout I have increased our fundraising goal. Thank you to all who have donated and shared. Your prayers are keeping the whole family strong and are appreciated more than you could ever know! What an incredible community to be a part of! ❤️-Kaara

*original story* See Above for the latest update.

In the very early hours of the morning on Sunday 2/7/21 Megan was brought by
ambulance to Maria Ferrari Children’s Hospital in desperate need of help. With more questions than answers, her parents Melissa and Mark have been away from big brother Michael and by her side.

Her team of doctors and nurses have
been working to uncover the cause of
her illness and a treatment.
On Monday morning Melissa’s update
was hopeful and terrifying at the same
time.
“Megan update- Thank you everyone for the messages and texts supporting us and Megan. She stayed stable all night. The doctors have several ideas of what may be causing her distress all which are very rare. We are waiting for a special medication to be airlifted here from North Carolina. Without going into too much detail please pray that this is the answer and we will see improvements to her once it is administered. We are praying it will arrive today in the late afternoon.”
By 7 pm on Monday the medicine was administered and within 30 minutes they started to see her moving her arm and leg and opening her eyes.
We pray at this time that the diagnosis is correct, and her healing has begun. From what we have heard it’s going to take time but she would be able to make a full recovery. We will share more as we get information.
Melissa and Mark have read every single message and appreciate it more than you will ever know. They have shared these positive thoughts and prayers with Megan too. Keep this cutie in your prayers, she’s a fighter for sure!