Baby Kaleo’s Medical Journey

Kaleo came into this world early as mama was diagnosed with fetal growth. Since birth, he has had a rough start. He has been unable to hold his temp, blood sugars, and has jaundice. The hospital released him and mom, giving them the all-clear, and they should not have.

Within 17 hours, Kaleo ended back at the hospital. Thank goodness he had a check-up scheduled the next morning, or things could have ended up going wrong quickly. I met them at the clinic for his check-up and immediately knew something was wrong. As soon as the pediatrician came in, she agreed. This is what happened:

Baby Kaleo Friday update from Nicole!

Kaleo has been back in the hospital since noon on 12/5 Thursday. He went for a routine doctor appointment, and immediately his pediatrician and I knew something was not right! Mazilyn & Kaleo were sent by ambulance back to the hospital right away!

He wasn’t even home 17 hours since he was released. They shouldn’t have released him. He wasn’t able to hold his temp, oxygen levels kept dipping, his breathing wasn’t right, and he had jaundice.

Since that time, he has had lots of blood draws (way too many) as well as blood sugar checks & bilirubin. He has had multiple doctors and nurses. Four attempts at spinal taps, and the last one was finally successful tonight at 6:30 pm.

We now wait for the cultured results. The results we have as of now do show infection. Now to find out where exactly and what’s going on.

They have treated him with multiple rounds of antibiotics for meningitis & sepsis just to be on the safe side. He had an abnormal ultrasound & she called it

~ A "positive" echogenicity on a newborn brain ultrasound ~

We are not sure what this will look like. It sounds like based on the results of the cultured lumbar puncture, they will redo the brain ultrasound and likely order a brain MRI. The pediatric doctor at this hospital thinks it could possibly be weeks of care. Of course, this is all new, so it could change! With these findings, we do believe Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis or St. Paul will be best for sweet baby boy Kaleo. The request for transfer will start on Saturday morning. We are not sure when it will take place. This sweet boy and our daughter & Kona have been through so much in five short days!

We ask for prayers for our grandson Kaleo, our daughter Mazilyn, & Kaleo’s dad, Kona! They are enduring sleepless nights, high anxiety, and a world of the unknown of what’s yet to come at such a young age themselves!

We are remaining positive and asking that God direct us in the right direction & heal Kaleo. Dear Lord, please hear our prayers

With all of this happening, Kona & Mazilyn will not only have unexpected expenses, but Kona has been unable to get back to work, and now with the commute to Children’s, it adds another layer of financial stress. But we all agree it’s the best for Kaleo and getting answers & healing!

Kona’s mom Jacki & I have had people reaching out to see how they can support these two, and this is the only option that we feel would work as they won’t be home for meals, etc!

What we need most is prayers, but if you would like to help these two financially with so many unknowns, they would be very thankful!