On February 20th, my daughter Kaylee was diagnosed with RSV. She started a five-day course of prednisone and breathing treatments every four hours, but her condition quickly worsened. On February 26th, we woke up to find Kaylee grunting and struggling to breathe. We rushed her to the hospital, where she tested negative for RSV, but a chest X-ray revealed pneumonia. She was transferred to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where she was discharged late that night with amoxicillin, another round of steroids, and continued breathing treatments.

Despite these treatments, Kaylee’s pain and breathing difficulties persisted. On March 1st, we returned to the hospital, where another X-ray showed her left lung was completely whited out. Due to weather conditions, we had to take an ambulance to Springfield instead of being flown. Upon arrival, her oxygen levels were low and her heart rate was dangerously high. She was placed on precedex to keep her calm, started on Bipap, IV fluids, and antibiotics, but her heart rate remained elevated. A follow-up X-ray revealed a pleural effusion and a partially collapsed lung. As I write this, Kaylee is undergoing a procedure to place a chest tube to help her breathe.

We expect to be in the hospital for at least 7-10 days. My husband will need to go home to care for our other children, which means missing work and added financial strain. The funds raised will help us cover our bills, transportation, food, and essentials while we focus on Kaylee’s recovery. If you cannot donate, please take a second out of your day to say a prayer for my baby girl and share this fundraiser. Your support, in any form, means the world to us.