Kajsa Winther

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As many of our friends and family know Kajsa was born with a very rare genetic auto immune disorder called Job Syndrome aka Hyper IGE  STAT3. Although Kajsa has had health issues since she was born, her most serious health issues didn't start until her high school years when she contracted aspergillus. In 2015 she had her most serious health crisis when developed pneumonia during the Clark County fair and had a 10 day stay in the hospital.  She had several pneumonias between then and 2017, then her health improved and she was able to finally complete her Associates degree at Clark College in 2020 and was accepted to Gonzaga University.  

Kajsa left home August 1, 2020 to Spokane Washington to attend Gonzaga University starting in September.  About a month into classes, she wasn't feeling well and sought medical attention through the University health care center.  After a couple of days and the readings of Xrays she was referred to emergency for a potential pneumonia.  That same day October 8th  she developed sever pain in her chest and as she put it the worst pain ever and was taken to emergency hospital #1, after being in the waiting room for 5 hours she left and went to another emergency that got her in immediately.

She was admitted into the Spokane Multi-care Deaconess hospital for pneumonia and treated and released 5 days later on October 13th, for a mass slightly larger than a softball. Although the pain had diminished, the overall symptoms had not and she was beginning to run a fever before she was cut loose.  Kajsa's mom & dad knew from past experiences with her health that she was not really getting better and had determined that it was time to bring her home to Vancouver/Washougal.  Reflecting on this stay the hospital, doctors and staff were not adequately trained, nor did they have the resources to handle a complex patient such as Kajsa.

On October 15 she was taken to Legacy Salmon Creek ER and admitted again.  This time in a more serious condition, with what looked like an effusion (liquid in the lung cavity).  A chest tube was inserted to take fluid off the chest and she was admitted.  After 6 days at Legacy and many consultations with her Doctor at the National Institutes of Health, it was determined her condition was a lot worse than what she was being treated for with the thought it was her lung that was full effected and not all fluid in the chest as images weren't changing.  The concern became if the lung was so infected that it was necrotized and the potential for lung surgery.   So doctors discussed and determined the best place for her to be was at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.  

On October 22nd Kajsa had a long ambulance ride to Seattle and where a new chapter begins.