Encephalitis Cases
Joseph
Joseph was about four months old when he began having high fevers and became very irritable. I would take Joseph to the hospital almost every week for high fevers and like they would always say "He's just fine". On a doctor's visit a nurse had examined him and we pointed out to her that he had a small legion on his tongue and without taking any cultures she diagnosed it as Herpenginis. She went on to say it should go away, just not to kiss him on the mouth. She then went on with his immunizations. About a week later Joseph had a high fever I took him to the hospital and they found nothing wrong. The following morning Joseph's side of his mouth was twitching and his right arm shaking. I took him to the hospital and immediately he was given Phenobarbital. That seems to stop the twitching. He was then given a spinal tap. At this point I was a nervous wreck.
About a week later his results came in and were diagnosed as Herpes Encephalitis. A MRI showed swelling to his brain and some bleeding. Joseph was administered Acyclovir through his main vein. Finally after 21 days on Acyclovir, Joseph seemed better. He was eating and seemed to be all right. On the day he was released from the hospital, I noticed that Joseph seemed different and I became very concerned. I mentioned this to the doctor and all she said there was nothing else they could do and I would have to wait and see. Within a week Joseph's appetite decreased and he seem to have a hard time swallowing. I immediately took him back to the hospital and they were constantly suctioning. Later he was given a tube in his nose for feeding.
Joseph, I cried please look at me and he would just lie there. He did not see me! He did not hear me! Joseph remained in ICU for quite some time. We then knew our lives would never be the same. He was then transferred to another hospital where the facility was set up for these kinds of traumas. The hospital became a big part of our lives. One day my husband walked in with tears and I asked him what was wrong and he said that Dr. Banuelos, a resident, had told him Joseph was probably going to stay in this condition and he probably wouldn't get better. I said to him who is he, he doesn't know, he's not God. I could not accept this. During the time Joseph was in ICU I remember crying myself to sleep night after night and asking myself why and how did Joseph get this Encephalitis? What was this and where did it come from? I would sometimes think could it have been my fault in any way?
Every night before leaving the hospital we would stop in the hospital Chapel and say a prayer for Joseph. I told my husband have faith and you will see Joseph will get better. I knew the doctors had been doing all that they could and I thanked God for such wonderful people that cared and loved Joseph. Now, we had to wait and see when our little man would come back to us. We finally began to put ourselves together. I, in some ways, had neglected my other children and even my job and had to make up for lot of lost time. I remember praying "If I could just see Joseph smile and hear him laugh it would make this world a better place".
It has been about two years now and Joseph is mentally delayed. He was diagnosed with cortical blindness and failed hearing tests have a g-tube, he does try to crawl. You know Joseph does smile and laugh and when I catch his eye looking at me he smiles and I know that he knows I am mommy and that I will always be there for him. Well, thank you for reading my story and never give up on hope. Anna
California, U.S.A.
Updated: July 4, 2000
