Sep 22, 2007 Update on Lily
// September 22nd, 2007 // Lily Rush
Dear Friends,
We regret that the birthday party scheduled for a few hours from now will have to be postponed. Lily spent the day like we have so many other days this year – trying to diagnose a medical mystery. She is covered from head to toe with big red welts, and is running a fever. So her birthday included two blood extractions, a chest x-ray, an echocardiogram, a urine catheterization, and one IV.
After all of that, we are grateful to have now ruled out endocarditis, a very dangerous bacterial infection around the heart. This is common among heart patients, and that’s what caused most of the fear today. Later this evening at Dell Children’s Hospital, our cardiologist stated that he felt confident it was something else. After three doctors have looked her over, no one knows what she has. They believe she has some strange virus – perhaps something of a “pox” strain – and they will watch her closely for the next few days.
The doctor who released us from the hospital told us that we should assume that she is contagious, and try to isolate her as much as possible. So that means no Lily at the party, and we’d rather have Lily there to show her off. The whole point of getting together was to thank all of our wonderful friends for their faithful prayers and encouragement. We still hope to make that happen, and I promise to post the time and date of our new party by Monday morning. It will most likely be some time next weekend.
Lily’s first year has been a lesson in perseverance and flexibility. Why would her first birthday celebration be any different? Tough day or not, we are very grateful that she’s with us, and grateful for friends like you. We will keep you posted.
