Clay has been admitted at CHKD for 10 days after falling severely ill with Eppstein Barr Virus (infectious mononucleosis) and severe tonsillitis/adenoiditis + severe swelling of his cervical lymph nodes, causing airway obstruction and the inability to eat or drink for over 7 days.

He has been through multiple diagnostic procedures, CT scans, ultrasounds and has been given 4 rounds of steroids, antipyretics around the clock for high fevers, constant IV fluids and IV nutrition, and most recently IV antibiotics and anticoagulants.

Every time Clay seemed to be improving, something has pushed him back. After he finished the first course of steroids and began to improve and feed orally on day 6, his fever spiked again to 104 degrees and he became tachycardic. They drew more labs, and his white blood cell count and CRP (inflammatory markers) skyrocketed. Around this time, the nursing team realized that one of his previous IV sites looked to be inflamed. After it was cultured, it was discovered that he had an area of infection and cellulitis. Ultrasound revealed later that day that Clay had an obstructive thrombus (blood clot) in his distal cephalic vein. IV Anticoagulants and antibiotics came into play at this point.

Clay is continuing to improve and discharge is finally on the horizon, but at the same time, his mother and stepfather have already spent countless hours back and forth to the hospital.

Katie has been out of work to stay at the hospital by Clay’s side since June 9th. Katie cannot return to work until Clay is able to return to daycare. Clay is at an increased risk of bleeding due to inflammation of his spleen secondary to the mononucleosis, and he will need to continue to be on anticoagulants even after discharge, furthering the risk.

We are rallying together and asking for everyone’s to help ease the burden on Katie and Brandon, as their income is severely reduced due to Clay’s hospitalization. Being that Katie cannot return to work until Clay is well, this is going to be a long road for them as a family.