[nippa&pippa]

Recently my 23months old daughter was rushed to CHCH hospital with suspected blood disorder after she had diarrhea, blood in urine & stool, spots all over the body and unexplained bruises. Blood & urine tests showed that she had early stages of kidneys failure as well as very low hemogloblin (Hb) and platelets...first thought that she may have leukeamia or similar before further tests confirmed she got HUS aka Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. HUS is bacterial infection in blood via stomach that affect kidneys.
She was so poorly with level of platelet and Hb keep falling, warning sign that her kidneys will be shut down. We were warned that she may need to be transfer to Starship in Auckland where they have better factilities for kidney failures/dialysis.
By third days, still falling and reach borderline for start of transfusion, they decided to give her blood transfusion to restore the level of platelets, still warned us about going to starship next few days if blood transfusion failed to prevent kidneys failure.
Morning after blood transfusion, she recovered very well much to everyone including Drs' surprises that she was allowed home next day!!!!! Just in time for her 2nd birthday at home last friday that we & Drs never thought that will happen.
She had been back to hosptial twice since to have blood test etc to ensure she is making good progress which she is. She is not out of the wood yet for next few months.
However, we learned in last a week that main reasons for her illness was E.coli, confirmed after test on her stool sample. We never heard about E.coli have huge impact on children under 5's blood/kidneys before, aka HUS. Because of E.coli was involved, we have been in touched by health officers, tried to trace of where she got E.coli from..
Usually found in uncooked meats, mainly beef (BBQ is highest risk!!), unwashed vegetable and fruit, swimming pools or animals.
In our case, it was likely to be cause is our new calves, arrival a week before our daughter struck down....transmission to her via either our dog, my OH or our eldest son who have been close contract.
Having been very badly affected with recent situation regards to our daughter, we just want you to be aware of E.coli.

We would like to say thank you to Ben&Clare for their supports :clap via texts and to relay messages to Moorf for me, even we haven't yet met each other!!!
Children's ward at chch hospital, Drs and nurses have been fantastic and gave us much better experiences than we had in UK's children's ward. :nice1

[jubjub]

OMG Sophia, your poor little girl, what a terrible week you have had. Hope she continues to recover well, and give her lots of hugs from me.

[Jo Jo]

Oh you poor thing, your poor daughter - what a worry. I'm glad she is making good progress, and hope she continues to do so. Best wishes.

[Kim39]

OMG from calves. Will inform my mate who has plenty within his paddocks on his land and just give him a friendly warning. Meanwhile i am glad to read all is looking good for the little one, and she'll remain in my thoughts whilst she goes through the recovery period. Keep your chins up as i'm sure it will all turn out just dandy for you.


Kim

[Sam B]

So glad to hear she's on the mend - what an awful fright for you.

[lockstock]

What a dreadful experience for you all. Glad the little one is on the way to recovery. I can't imagine the nightmare you must have gone through.

[K&CS]

Oh Sophia, I had no idea. How terrible. Glad she's feeling better now and it's a good warning to everyone.

Kate x

[Familyofmonkeys]

Sophia, I am so sorry to hear about your poor little thing...hope she has a speedy recovery. Must have been an awful worry for you all.

[Moorf]

Hey hon - good to see you back on the forum. Thank god everything turned out well in the end... xxx.. will be in touch v. soon.

[Pip]

so glad to hear the latest tests were encouraging and will keep our fingers crossed that she continues to improve... big hugs to the whole family...

[nippa&pippa]

From our experiences, we have learnt that our kiwis friends are very involved to help us out as well as ex-pat friends. When we learnt that our daughter need to go to hospital asap, one of our first thoughts is what we do with our eldest son. So we rang one of kiwis friends who live near hospital to see if they could have our son and they did at very short notice. Also had our son again for next two days while my OH visit us.
Our youngest son, who is still breastfeeding, had to come with us and our daughter to hospital and we were given a room with a bed for daughter, a cot for our baby son and a fold-away bed for me.
Normally in this situation, we usually call our families to help out, but in NZ, away from your families, you have to use your friends to help you out in short notice..... :yes

[Tia Maria]

So glad to hear she is recovering, it must have been a rough couple of days for you all.

A relative of mine (nurse), suggested we use Purell Hand Sanitizer whenever the kiddies were ill. And I use it when we are travelling as it doesn't need water.

Cheers

Tia

[Helsandfamily]

So sorry to hear that you have had a tough time Sophia, It must have been VERY frightening. Glad that your daughter is on the mend

Hels
xx

[Familyofmonkeys]

Purell Hand Sanitizer

I have several bottles of hand sanitiser too....my kids have a lovely habbit of filling their nappies whenever we are out somewhere with no running water :roll

[raghujadhav]

Glad to hear she is recovering , will pray to god to get her recovered completely .

[nickydwuk]

I could sense the worry & panic in your post. Glad she is over the worse and it is a leson to be learnt by all. Best wishes to you all. :yes

[shakyle2906]

Sophia

Just read your post.

So very glad she is on the mend, it must have been an awful worry for you all, and especially not having aany family over here to turn to. I would have gone out of my mind!

Give her a big kiss for me and let us know how she progresses.

Sharon
xx

[wilson182]

Oh Sophia, sending you our very best wishes - glad to hear she is doing well.

The Wilsons

[dilanium]

What a horrible week Sophia! I'm glad that she's on the mend.

Mt thoughts are with you.

[Tanya]

Sophia

Just saw this post - I am pleased to hear she is slowly on the mend. Its amazing how kids can bounce back from something isnt it!

Take care

Tanya

[LesleyS]

Sophia Hugs and Kisses for your little one, hope she feels better soon xx

[Red Devil]

... so pleased your daughter is OK and hope she makes a full recovery. My wife is a renal nurse, so she can relate to this very easily... all the very best and take care.

[jackie m]

Bless you Sophia, glad the little one is on the mend. Hope she has a lovely birthday.
Jackie x

[nippa&pippa]

suggested we use Purell Hand Sanitizer whenever the kiddies were ill. And I use it when we are travelling as it doesn't need water.



Got few of them, one in changing bag and few in house before she went to hospital anyway...
My OH and eldest son now since daughter discharged from hospital that they have been given very strict instruction by me, they are not allowed in house at all till they wash their hand outside first then sanitizer afterward :D
For puppy....she will be giving very good tell-off from me or OH if she enter paddocks again...she not yet attempt enter paddocks since my OH did last time few days ago..
For daughter, she is now under supervision when she go outside by either me or my OH as she not out of the wood.

We were amazed how much little information about E.coli was mentioned in my OH's agri college work or lifestyles block's books.....

[KerryS]

How horribly stressful and worrying for you all. I hope little R is recovering well, and there are no long lasting effects.

[Tia Maria]

I find it quite difficult to get my kids to remember to hand wash, although my oldest has got better since school.

This looks like quite a child friendly guide:

www.colgate.com/app/LatherUpForGoodHealth/US/Kids.cvsp

I might show my kids this when they get a bit slack again!

Cheers

Tia

[SharpBlade]

Hi SOphia,
I had no idea ! I gave my cell phone to some relatives who are on holiday here (nelson), I don't know if you tried to reach me. Let me know if you need anything, ok? Laura

[mgbridges]

What a worrying time you've had, hope your little one is back to full health very, very soon.

Anneliese

[nippa&pippa]

Hi SOphia,
I had no idea ! I gave my cell phone to some relatives who are on holiday here (nelson), I don't know if you tried to reach me. Let me know if you need anything, ok? Laura

It is ok laura, It happened two days after I came to your house, she didn't look ill then was she?!
By the way, forgot in all these drama! Eliot finally passed his hearing test :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana , so no need for surgery, phew! But his surgeon offered me cochlear implants if I want one! :) So I am currently thinking very careful about it, got all paperwork but just waiting for me make a first step decision.....

[PeteS]

Isn't there also a possibility of E Coli being in drinking water?

[benandclare]

Good news that she's on the road to recovery, long may it continue.

Sounds like you've tracked down the cause and will be no doubt be a wake up call to other folks with livestock.


And :raebanana :raebanana for Elliot passing his hearing test.

[nippa&pippa]

And :raebanana :raebanana for Elliot passing his hearing test.

:raebanana :clap

[sizzlingbadger]

What a week for you :( Glad your daughter is on the mend, that must have been very frightening for you and makes you realise just how precious they can be.

Congratulations to Elliot for passing his hearing test, must have been a huge relief for you :raebanana

[thezorbster]

So sorry to hear your awful story but glad your daughter is on the mend again.
Best wishes