Helping Kaylie

I appreciate you being here more than you know, thank you to everyone who has been supportive thus far.

Our daughter Kaylie was admitted to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital on December 18th, 2022. The past almost two weeks have been extremely difficult on her and our entire family. Fortunately she is an incredibly strong little girl and a very tough cookie!

Our Story....Kaylie woke up with shortness of breath and a fever on December 18th after not feeling well for a few days. We took her to the ER and Kaylie was taken back very quickly due to her symptoms. Her oxygen levels were low, her fever was very high, her blood pressure and pulse were elevated. Almost immediately Kaylie was given breathing treatments, a chest x-ray, and blood was drawn in attempt to find out what was wrong. A while later we were told Kaylie had pneumonia, but at this time the doctors were not sure which type. The ER in Vacaville did not have a pediatric unit and they were unable to provide the care she required. Ultimately she was transported via critical care ambulance to UCSF Benioff's Children's Hospital. After several tests was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.

To date, Kaylie has gone through two different proceeders to remove the fluid that had built up in her left lung. The first chest tube was placed on December 21st and after several days she had to undergo another procedure to have larger tube replaced, after the first smaller tube was unsuccessful. Over 1200ml of fluid have drained from her left lung and is continuing to drain. She has undergone two ultrasounds, a CT scan, and X-rays every morning.

Unfortunately, on December 28th when Kaylie received her second chest tube, we were notified by her Doctors Kaylie had a bronchopleural fistula (a hole) in her left lung. Her bacterial pneumonia diagnoses had elevated to Necrotizing Pneumonia, a more rare pneumonia which causes damage to the lung tissue.

We are glad to report that Kaylie is in good spirits and is an incredibly strong little girl. She is such a fighter, but is going to have a long road to recovery. We will be here at the hospital for the next few weeks, along with multiple trips back and forth for follow up appointments for a few months once she is finally released.

My husband and I ask, if there is anything that you could donate to help with unforeseen costs we would greatly appreciate it. Our family and Kaylie's health means the world to us. We can't wait to have our little girl home and feeling better, she is a fighter and is going to come out the other end of this stronger.

A huge thank you to our incredible team of Nurses and amazing Doctors at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital!

Thank you so much,

B.J. & Erika Hewitt