Prayers for my little fighter

The last few days have been very hard for our family because everything turned upside down when Tommy was transferred to the ICU at the local Children's Hospital. Everything started with a cold. He was congested on Monday. Then, he had a fever on Tuesday. Later, he had a few more fevers on Wednesday and finally, a health break down on Thursday afternoon. He began to have shorting breath even when we were using the nebulizer and the fevers didn't go away even we gave him fever relief medication. I called to the pediatrician exchange number and the nurse began to be concerned. So she decided we should do the nebulizer again. We did it and she called back in 15 minutes, but Tommy's short breathing didn't improve much, so she said:

"He is in a red zone,

you have to take him to the hospital now.

If you notice his lips turn blue and

his breathing get worse

stop the car and call 911."

After her words, I remained calm because it was the best I could do. So I got ready and took Tommy to the car around 7:00 p.m., but his breathing wasn't looking right and his lips where turning purple on the car, so I called 911. The paramedic from the fire-station got before the ambulance, so he checked him and it wasn't that bad. But when the ambulance came, the paramedics set him the ambulance and checked his oxygen levels and they began to be concerned. So they decided to take him to the nearest hospital that it is just 5 minutes from my house instead going to the bigger hospital that it is about 20 to 25 minutes where the hospital staff was already waiting for us.

Once he was in the hospital, the pediatrician asked for blood work and x-ray, it was positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). So they made the decision to transfer him to a bigger hospital, which is one of the top ten best nationwide hospitals in pediatric care. He was transfered by helicopter, even his condition wasn't so serious at that time.

Tommy's condition is stable, but he has to fight the virus by himself. He had to be sedated due to his constantly fights against the nurses and trying to take the mask out of his face. He needs the mask because he is not breathing on his own. Being sedating has helping him to rest and may be to begin the healing process. There are good signs that may be the beginning of his recovery:

• RSV leads to other serious lung infections, such as: pneumonia, but he doesn't have it. He is still at a high risk to get it, but the doctors gave him the treatment as a precaution. He also has the vaccine against the pneumonia.
• He hasn't had a fever in the last 24 hours.
• His oxygen level went down from 60% to 45% and then to 35% tonight.
• His breathing rate is stabilizing because before it was all over the place due to the agitation.
• His chest doesn't sound so congested as it was.

Tommy is going trough a lot right now, but he is a fighter and he is strong as I am. This is one more battle he will win. Thanks to our families, friends and the hospital staff for all their support.

He may not be a millionaire, but he has a fortune in love. So there are a lot of people praying for him. Right now, the best we can do for him is to pray. If you are Catholic and know the rosary, please pray the rosary for him. I do believe in the power of prayers!

This photo was taken Friday night.

A day before he was transferred to the ICU.