Encephalitis Cases

Sam           
  My sister has been a nanny for a family for 10 years. In that time our family has come to know the children she cares for and love them as family. On Tuesday, Sept. 5th (two days after his 8th birthday), Sam began showing signs of what looked like the flu. He slept a lot and was lethargic. By Friday he had been diagnosed with Viral Encephalitis and was sent home with the instructions to give him Advil for the terrible headaches he would get. Friday night he began to cry from the headaches and his only relief was when the Advil took effect.

Sam was entered into Minneapolis Children's Hospital after he lost the ability to speak while eating dinner. His brain became enlarged and he lost mobility in his arms and legs. The doctors gave him steroids to stop the swelling and it seemed to work. Monday, Sam was transferred out of ICU and seemed to be getting better. He was able to move all his body parts, and talked up a storm for most of the afternoon.

Today, Sam has gotten worse. He is hypersensitive to noise, light and anything else that assaults his senses. His headaches have returned and he is now receiving morphine to ease his pain.

This is the most frustrating disease I have ever known. Everyone is afraid to get their hopes up because one minute he is fine and the next minute he is sick again. I have read many of the stories on your web site and many of them offer me hope, but I am also scared of what Sam will be left with once this disease is over.

Sam has always been a very active child. He plays soccer, baseball, swims and pretty much excels at whatever he does. He is definitely a very coordinated and smart little boy. I know that many of you will add your prayers to mine as we begin our journey with this thing. I hope and pray that he will be all right.

Melissa
Eden Prarie, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Email Button
Posted: July 16, 2002 		  adults cases

kids cases

help button

submit button

Home button



[ADULTS] [CHILDREN] [HELP] [SUBMIT STORY] [EMAIL] [HOME]