On Christmas Day, Amara was taken to the ER in Colfax for fatigue, pale skin, lethargy, joint pain and swelling, and abdominal pain. Her red blood cells were found to be very low, her kidney function was greatly decreased, and her lungs appeared very congested. Dr. Leland transferred her care to Sacred Heart Pediatric Hospital.

On Dec 26th, Amara received a blood transfusion and had a CT of her lungs. Drs suspected an autoimmune vasculitis and wanted a kidney biopsy to confirm this. Amara’s immune system was attacking the small blood vessels in her body, affecting her lungs and kidneys. The biopsy was done that afternoon. High-dose steroids and a chemo drug were to be given 4 hours after the biopsy (not sooner due to the bleeding risk) to try to turn her immune system off. She was transferred to the pediatric oncology unit as the staff there are comfortable administering chemo drugs.

45 minutes later, she began having chest pain and became very short of breath, going into acute respiratory distress syndrome. She was rapidly moved to Pediatric ICU and placed on BiPAP and sedated due to the stress and anxiety of the BiPAP machine. She received the first dose of steroids and chemo. By morning Dec 27th, her breathing seemed a little better, and she was given a break from the BiPAP machine. She was now on a high-flow nasal cannula. Chest X-ray showed a small collapse of her left lung and air in the tissue of her neck and chest where it didn’t belong. So no more BiPAP. By afternoon, her lung (pneumothorax) was worse, and she needed a chest tube. The chest tube was placed, and she improved slightly. She received a dose of a different chemo drug as well as the high-dose steroid that evening.

On Dec 28th, the Drs tried to wean down her oxygen levels and were unsuccessful. The day was rough, and she continued to work extremely hard just to breathe. Drs believed the bleeding in her lungs had stopped, and her kidney function remained unchanged.

Dec. 29 Amara was requiring increased oxygen flow and still barely maintaining descent numbers. Drs decided to go ahead with her central line as it would be required for the plasmapheresis that needed to happen in the late afternoon. Sedating her for the central was very possibly going to tip her over the edge to where she would no longer be able to breathe for herself, in which case they would intubate and place her on ECMO. Well, this is what happened. The ECMO machine is now acting as her lungs and oxygenating her blood. Her heart is doing all the normal things it would do. But her lungs are being. Allowed to rest and heal. She is mildly sedated but able to wake up and look around. She hears her Mom and Dad talking to her and has responded. She seems to understand the tube in her mouth and has been able to remain calm. (One tough chick). She is still getting all of the regular treatments for the autoimmune condition that is the underlying cause of all this. For now she will remain on the ECMO until her lungs are healed enough to take back over. Friends and family can send her cards and pictures to Amara McCully room 310 Sacred Heart Medical Center 101 West 8th Avenue Spokane Wa 99204

We have been overwhelmed with the community support for this amazing young woman and thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support.

Sonia McCully

These funds will be shared equally and going to both Amara’s families to help cover hospital costs and support them through these tough times. Anything helps, and your prayers are appreciated.