Granddaughter sick
By Polly1
@Polly1 (12645)
United States
April 14, 2008 10:11pm CST
Hey everybody, I am sure that some of my friends, who I regularly respond to their discussions are wondering where I have been. My 11 week old granddaughter has been in the hospital. I have been spending lots of time up there. We have all been sick here at my house. My son, DIL, 3 yr. old grandson and I, plus the baby. Saturday night and into Sunday morning we were at the hospital. We took her in and then they transferred her to the Childrens hospital by ambulance. They have been running all kinds of test. It turns out she has pnemonia and a urinary tract infection. They even did a spinal tap to rule out menengitis. My son and DIL, did not want them to do the spinal tap but they were pressured by the doctors. The docs said they do that to all the babies that come in with high fevers and are sick. I think its a bunch of crap that they automatically want to do that even against parents wishes. The baby had no signs or symptoms of menengitis, its not going around. My son looked it up, he found out that doctors all over are automatically putting babies at risk and doing spinal taps. Some parents are being accused of neglect for refusing the procedure. So far everything is coming back negative. They have tested her for everything. Today she is back to being our happy baby, except when they are poking her with needles. We did find out when she was born that she has a heart defect, she has a heart murmer. It turns out she has 2 holes in her heart and stenosis, thats narrowing of one of the arteries. The cardiologist says that the holes should close on their own and she should be fine. Right now they are giving the baby IV antibiotics and she is responding good. We are hoping she can come home tomorrow, if not then hopefully the next day. My DIL has stayed at the hospital with her. If you got this far thanks for reading the long post. I just wanted to give you an update with what has been going on with me. Take care everyone, I miss you guys when I don't have time to be here at mylot. I will do my best to start responding to some of you.
6 people like this
16 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Hi. I am sorry to hear about your granddaughter. I hope she recovers and gets well soon. I have missed seeing you around here and i hope you can get back with all of us soon. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. May God bless all of you and best wished for a speedy recovery.
3 people like this
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Hi Polly good to see you, that had to be rather scary for all concerned. Sorry they did the spinal tape as well. I have a nephew with so many health issues, he has had several now I think. I hope the little darlin continues to recover and you don't worry about us here. Come when you can. I shall say some prayers that she is back home tomorrow. Take good care now.
2 people like this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Ahh your so sweet, thanks so much for your kind words and also your prayers. I wouldn't be so upset about the spinal tap if there had been a good reason to do it, they didn't have a good reason. I just think they put babies at risk when they don't have to. I hope your nephew gets better too.
1 person likes this
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Well, unlike your Grand daughter my nephew, will have health and other issues his whole life more then likely. He is in remission for lukima right now, he also has scoliosus, has Autisim. Since he was born he has been in the hospital so many times I have lost count. You know though he really is just such a sweet boy and goes through these things like a trooper. Again best wishes to your daughter and grand daughter.
Oh and please excuse my poor spelling.
2 people like this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I wondered where you were and if you were ok! So sorry to hear that everybody's been sick and that the baby had to be hospitalized. Gosh, that's so scary when they're so little and get sick. Thank heavens it isn't meningitis, but I guess they have to rule that out. Glad to hear she's responding to the treatments, will keep her in my prayers for a quick recovery and a safe return to home. Hope you get some rest too, sounds like besides being sick you were very busy too. Anyways, glad to see you're back!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Sorry to hear about your Grandaughter my friend and what they have been putting her through. I have said a Quick Prayer of healing for her while reading this, and I know everything is going to be OK. Just remember God is in control of all we go thru, and soon you will be able to look back on this, and say even though it was hard, it was over, and you are a better person because of it.
Hugs for you and your family.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
16 Apr 08
I know, I feel so sorry for her too. Poor baby, she is so little and so young. She weighs 10 lbs and 13 oz. she is a good weight and size for her age. But she looks so tiny when they are poking her and putting IV's in, stuff like that. She gives us this sad look, she doesn't understand. Tomorrow will be a good day, we get to bring her home.
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
17 Apr 08
I can in some ways relate because my son was born inhaling meconium and he couldn't breathe. He immediately had to be rushed to the NICU and he had lots of tubes and needles stuck to him, it was horrible to see. He is doing well today but is under the autism spectrum.. we wonder if that was the cause, we will never know. Anyway thats wonderful news that the baby is coming home.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
21 May 08
Since this post is from a month ago, I am hoping that that cutie pie is all better by now, so instead of wishing her a quick recovery I will rant and rage!How dare the doctor make the young parents feel pressured into giving her testing that there is no need for! Good for your son to get as involved as he did in the research end of it. (While your daughter-in-law was doing the thing that she did best) (Dads can be real wimps when it comes to that kind of thing - but give them a concrete right-brained job and they are "all that" and more!). Since he was able to get so much information, he might want to submit what he found to his insurance company. Doctors/Hospitals seem to think ordering unnecessary tests to bolster their accounts is okay and no one will ever touch them. This is why our insurance costs keep ever rising - and they say that this is why their medical insurance keeps rising. Someone needs to put a check somewhere! Oh Good Grandmother! I said I was going to rant!Regardless, even if it has been a month, I hope the entire family is doing well. You are always close to my heart. Bright Blessings~Donna
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
21 May 08
Hey My Darlin Old Hag, you dear to my heart too, its going pitter patter right now. Yes the little darlin is all better and getting big. We all got over our being sick. Now some of us are getting colds again. I am hoping she doesn't get sick again. I ranted and raved for days about the docs pressuring them about the spinal tap. Totally unnecessary testing. All is well now.
I hope things are well with you, and I am hoping things are looking up. Take care and hope to see you around.
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Hello Polly1, thank you for accepting my invite to be on friends list. I see that by now your granddaughter is doing really good and that is great news. It is amazing how little ones can over come things so much easier than we can. When my grandson was about 5 weeks old he had a high fever during the night and my daughter went to Wal Mart and got tylenol for him and she waited until the doctor's office was open to call them and get him in, she had been told that babies of that age do not run a fever unless it is something bad. The doctor said take him to the children's hospital, so she and I took him. They did a spinal tap on him and it was horrible, we could hear him screaming and could not be in there with him. Come to find out he did have menengitis so it was a good thing the test was done on him. I guess at the time there was an outbreak of it because there were several babies in there at that time with the same thing. He had to have it done again later in the week and finally all things were cleared up and he was able to go home after a week. My daughter stayed all night with him and I spent the days there so she could go home and get rest and things done that she wanted to get done. Have a great day and give that growing little girl an extra hug.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Thanks so much for your response and also for your friends request. We are so thankful our little darlin is doing so good. I was so angry that they were doing the spinal tap when she had no symptoms for menengitis. We all had colds and she got one too, she was responding to the breathing treatments. I have learned since then that they do spinal tap on all babies that come in with a fever, its standard procedure. They don't think nothing of it, I don't think they should put a needle in your spine unless there is a good reason. Its the hospitals covering their own butts, they like to run lots of test to rule out everything, plus they can charge lots of money for all the test. The littel darlin is a sweety, she is 6 months old now, giggling, growing, cooing and a joy to be around. Nice meeting you new friend.
@penny56 (17)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Hey Polly,
Your granddaughter sounds like a real fighter. I agree with you about the doctors automatically doing a spinal tap without enough valid symptoms.
I, too, was born with a heart murmur. The doctors were not worried at all because a heart murmur is very common. Most of the time it takes care of itself. I know first-hand because I am now 56 years young and my heart is fine.
I truly believe that the two holes in her heart will close on their own. It is amazing what the human body is capable of.
If you get a chance, let me know what your granddaughter's name is because I want to pray for her by name. I am a firm believer of prayer. Prayer changes things....
Your granddaughter is going to do just fine. I can feel it deep down in my soul.
Sometimes children are able to recover faster than adults can. Your granddaughter will not give up the fight.
Please keep me posted on her condition.
You hang in there and take care of yourself so that you can then take care of her.
I am fairly new to MyLot but I really enjoy this sight. If you like, add me as a friend and I will do the same.
I look forward to hearing from you (at your convenience).
Peace and Love,
Penny
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Welcome to Mylot Penny, I put in a request to be friends with you. I really hope you continue to enjoy this site. Its a great site to hang out, make friends, learn things and as an added bonus earn a few bucks.
I do thank you for you prayers and kind words. My granddaughter is expected to come home tomorrow. She is doing so good. All the extra test are coming back negative. She does have some pnemonia and a urinary tract infection. The heart defect that she has is expected to heal itself as she grows. I was at the hospital today, the baby is back to being happy again. They have her on IV antibiotics and want one more day for that. Its better to be safe then sorry. I am also a firm believer in prayer and the power of prayer. I have asked my friends here for prayers before and they have all come thru for me. We are a great group of kind, caring, loving people. We have no problem welcoming new people, its always nice to get to know more people. Thanks again, hope to see you around mylot.
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
16 Apr 08
i'm so sorry to hear about your granddaughter. she's very lucky to have a grandmother like you because you are there to take good care of her. i'm sure your love and support would really be a big help in her recovery.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
19 Jul 08
Is she feeling better now? It can be so hard when someone you love is not feeling very well. I do hope she is feeling better.
