A Grade 8 Brookswood Secondary student is in the ICU at B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital fighting for her life after a common virus attacked her heart.
Andrea Marshall said the nightmare began around three weeks ago when she took her daughter Kenzie to Surrey Memorial Hospital emergency room after her daughter鈥檚 symptoms grew beyond what seemed like a typical flu bug.
The emergency doctor diagnosed it as a common virus. However Kenzie鈥檚 condition deteriorated quickly and she was rushed to B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital.
When she arrived, she was in total heart failure, fighting to stay alive.
鈥淲e were told that tests show this is from a virus that has destroyed her heart muscle. First we were told (she would need) a pacemaker and defibrillator but those won鈥檛 work now, so we are praying the artificial heart pump will work,鈥� said Andrea from her daughter鈥檚 bedside.
鈥淚 have hope this (the heart pump) will work. She鈥檚 a tough girl.
鈥淲e are hoping and praying that a mechanical heart pump will be put in soon. With this procedure comes a back-up plan 鈥� she will be put on the heart transplant list. Kenzie is an amazingly talented, smart, strong, beautiful young lady,鈥� said Andrea.
Kenzie turned 14 in ICU a few days ago. Before this, she was a healthy, happy girl, said her mom.
This may not be an isolated case. Andrea said there is a four-year-old girl in ICU in similar circumstances.
Andrea has been by Kenzie鈥檚 side since her ordeal began. She is amazed that families in crisis still have to pay the $14.50 a day parking fee at Children鈥檚.
A has been started to help ease some of the family鈥檚 financial burden. Already, some of Andrea鈥檚 co-workers and friends have donated.
This year鈥檚 flu is particularly brutal and has even been fatal for a few children. In Canada, there have been around five flu-related deaths in children so far this flu season. But hundreds more have been hospitalized, with many placed in ICU, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported on its FluWatch website.
The number one complication that can arise from the influenza virus in children is pneumonia and if that infection gets into the bloodstream, it can cause what鈥檚 known as sepsis, which leads to the body鈥檚 organs shutting down.
BC Children鈥檚 Hospital told the Times that they are only seeing a slightly higher than average flu volumes this year.
鈥淭he flu burden has remained constant 鈥� there is nothing different this year from before,鈥� said Children鈥檚 Hospital spokesperson Cara Christopherson.
B.C. Children鈥檚 has a page on its website explaining when to bring a child into emergency for the flu. If a child鈥檚 fever continues to be high and hasn鈥檛 improved from Tylenol or Advil, and they appear very sleepy, bring them to the ER.
Babies under three months with a fever greater than 38C should be taken to emergency. For full information .
