Super Simon Hiltner Super Simon

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Simon was diagnosed with influenza A on Thanksgiving, and we were admitted to our local hospital for monitoring. While I stayed with simon, Jamie kept care of the other 3 kiddos- who also came down with influenza A. Simon did okay over the weekend. He battled some high fevers (105°) as well as additional oxygen needs and a high heart rate (200+). Over the weekend, Oliver worsened and was also admitted to our local hospital with breathing issues. Ollie's condition continued to worsen, and he was sent to the Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with inflammation in his airway due to complications of Influenza. Simon was doing better, and was able to come home on Saturday.


Sunday night, while Jamie was in the cities with Oliver, I noticed Simon's temple was swollen and red. I brought him to the emergency room, and while there he required more oxygen than he typically does. We had an excellent Dr who made the decision to send him to the Children's Hospital. 


Shortly after arriving to the Children's Hospital ER, Simon dropped his oxygen numbers very low. He was unresponsive, and sternum rubs/thumps couldn't rouse him. They put him on 15 liters oxygen as well as blow by oxygen, and brought us to the trauma bay. Simon was stabilized in the trauma room, and was then brought up to the ICU. 


Our doctor met us in the room with the news that Simon would have a breathing tube inserted, as well as a central line placed. He had those procedures on Sunday night. We were told to expect Simon to get worse before he got better. Along with Influenza A, Simon also has pneumonia, an infection and high carbon dioxide levels in his blood. They started him on a couple powerful antibiotics.


Yesterday was a busy day of testing. Simon's blood pressure was too low, and they prepared us for another line being placed to help correct that. We noticed Simon was "clamping down" or sending his blood to his organs, and not providing good blood flow to his extremities. His carbon dioxide level was still high, and he had some bloodwork come back abnormal. He wasn't able to urinate on his own, and a catheter was placed. Some of his kidney bloodwork showed signs his kidneys were not functioning properly. Simon's heart rate and rhythm had anomalies, and an EKG and echo were performed. He was placed on a video eeg to make sure he wasn't having seizures. We also had to watch him be bagged several times. Simon was not attempting to breathe over the ventilator. His lungs would get too tight to let the ventilator work properly, and he was paralyzed 3 times with a medicine that lasts around an hour each time. The good news yesterday was that Oliver had made a fantastic recovery, and he was able to go home.


Today was a much steadier day. Simon was placed on a diuretic to help with fluid build up. His blood pressure is better, and his bloodwork is okay. He was started on potassium to help with that. Simon's co2 levels have improved. The EKG and echo showed some abnormalities aside from his already diagnosed heart conditions, but nothing urgent or pressing. Simon has had several episodes where he drops his heart rate and oxygen, but has been able to get them back up for the most part on his own. Today his heart rate dipped into the 50's, and the lowest his oxygen dipped was 16%. Those are hard to watch, but they assure me it does not mean a setback for Simon. 


Simon has attempted a few breaths on his own today, and squeezed my finger. He has hopefully plateaued, and will not continue to worsen as the doctors feared. Our doctor has reassured me that he expects Simon to make a full recovery, although the process may be long. Simon had an okay day today, and an okay day is a great thing at this point.