Jessica
Jessica has Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome), congenital heart disease, and severe pneumonia. She has the biggest brown eyes, that look out from such a small pale face. She is so very sick and yet, somehow, still manages a soft giggle as her favourite caregiver, Judith, plays peek-a-boo with her.
Oh, how she melts your heart ...
She is 9 months old and weighs 4kg. I wouldn't have thought that even possible four months ago ... it is close to a birth weight. She is undoubtedly a fighter but this is the biggest fight she has ever had to face in her short little life.
She was brought to us from Malabon a few weeks ago, sick with pneumonia ... improved for a short time.... until a second bout of pneumonia hit ... with such little reserve she was so incredibly vulnerable.
Charity and I rushed her into hospital last week in severe respiratory distress. I spent 3 days and 2 nights in hospital with her ... you do not leave, you cannot afford to leave.
She was given IV antibiotics and oxygen. No monitors ... and just four hourly observations. In the western world she would have been in intensive care. I did not sleep.
We brought her home with her IV cannula in situ to continue her IV antibiotics. The short trip home took so much out of her that she could barely take the next breath. To watch a child gasping for air makes you feel just about as helpless as one could feel. We started oxygen and, big sigh, it settled her.
And then ... her IV cannula failed. We tried finishing the course of antibiotics with intramuscular injections but her exhausted little body simply could not cope.
She was given IV antibiotics and oxygen. No monitors ... and just four hourly observations. In the western world she would have been in intensive care. I did not sleep.
We brought her home with her IV cannula in situ to continue her IV antibiotics. The short trip home took so much out of her that she could barely take the next breath. To watch a child gasping for air makes you feel just about as helpless as one could feel. We started oxygen and, big sigh, it settled her.
And then ... her IV cannula failed. We tried finishing the course of antibiotics with intramuscular injections but her exhausted little body simply could not cope.
She was still so sick. With no means of finishing her course of IV antibiotics (she would not have survived the trip back to the hospital) we had few options left. We started her on oral antibiotics - a big step down from the IV antibiotics but our last hope.
And still she is with us. Our little miracle girl. She still needs oxygen to breathe but she is taking small amounts of milk.
Our little Jessica is still fighting ...
I don't know what the future holds ... but all we can do is pray, love on her, and have faith that whatever happens is the best thing for little Jessica. Its not in our hands ... it never is!
And still she is with us. Our little miracle girl. She still needs oxygen to breathe but she is taking small amounts of milk.
Our little Jessica is still fighting ...
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| On arrival to hospital last week |
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| Admitted to the ward..... |
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| .... and so little in such a big bed |
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| ...... that I needed to nest with her...... |
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| Home at last ... and a few days later .... loving the nasal prong oxygen |
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| Yesterday.... she smiled and laughed - miracles can be so very small but so very significant |
I don't know what the future holds ... but all we can do is pray, love on her, and have faith that whatever happens is the best thing for little Jessica. Its not in our hands ... it never is!
