The Barnyard is Back

With all of the recent news about swine flu at Children's, it'd be easy to forget that Children's is sponsoring a petting zoo full of friendly swine and other animals at the Texas State Fair - the Children's Medical Center Barnyard. Plenty of fairgoers have remembered the Barnyard in 2009 and once again made it a family favorite at the State Fair.

The Barnyard, which features exotic animal exhibits in addition to the petting zoo, will be open until the conclusion of the State Fair on Oct. 18. If you go, please share your family pictures with us at www.childrens.com/barnyard. One lucky entrant will win an HD Flip cam.

In the meantime, check out this video montage of some of our favorite photos from the Barnyard.

So this is how this works???

Noelle Dugan is the director of communications at Children's Medical Center. This is a follow-up to her first post about having to stay home with her sick child, a 5-year-old who has swine flu.

I had been hoping my update to the blog would have been something simple and very comforting to parents.

As of Tuesday evening, Sydney's temperature had finally returned to normal, so she went to bed without any fever reducer and woke up Wednesday morning at 98.6! What an awesome birthday gift as Wednesday was Sydney's big day! I started the 24 hour count down of fever free. She was feeling really good on Wednesday. We even had a little birthday celebration at home. The real bash was planned for Sunday.

But maybe we over did it or something because come bedtime, her fever was back up to 99.5. I found this really odd, but she was still feeling good. She went to bed asking if she could go to school on Thursday. I explained that she still had a fever and would have to wait another day.

Well, that night she coughed uncontrollably and on Thursday morning she was a mess. The coughing was worse; her left eye was weeping and her nose was running like a faucet. Her fever was back up to 101. I knew this wasn't a good sign. Part of the issue that we've seen with the flu is this secondary infection.

Of course I got online and everything says if a fever goes away and then comes back call your doctor. So I did.
They told us to come in immediately. The doctor checked her breathing and her oxygen level (the biggest concern is pneumonia). Thankfully, both were fine but something was causing the return of the fever. Our doctor ruled out ear and sinus infections, then looked in her mouth and there it was: big, red, swollen tonsils.

Sydney now has tonsilitis.

So now I'm a little concerned...again. I remember in some of the discussions at work (where I haven't been all week!) about this super infection they're seeing in some of the really sick kids. So I made another call to one of my friends at Children's. He advised me that they had been seeing increased infection in the lower respiratory tract, so we've started on the antibiotics.

Poor Syd's fever has been back up to 102 most of the day, so we're back on the fever reducer too. She is now really under the weather. Her throat is killing her. Have you ever tried to get a 5-year-old to drink hot tea? Didn't work out so well.

So it's 2 a.m. I've slept in a twin bed with my not-so-little 5-year-old (Sydney's in the 97th percentile for height) for the past two nights. If you call this sleeping. I'm praying for no fever in the morning, less drainage, and a better feeling Syd.

This has been a grueling week. All I can hope is that we are truly, finally on the mend. If there are a significant number of parents living what I'm living with all these kids with the flu, we probably need to be concerned about that too. Is there a description of exhaustion in our health library? Cause you can put my picture next to it!

So this is really it. Swine flu up close and personal. Stay tuned.

P.S. We've postponed Sydney's party. If all goes well the next couple days she should not be contagious, but the doctor said her immune system is too weak to risk the introduction of any infection to her. Talk about adding insult to injury. Now that I think about it, maybe she was actually spitting the hot tea at me.

Giving back to Children's

Ah, the hustle and bustle of the winter holidays: the happy (or maybe harried) crowds, the present buying, the decorations, the parties. It gives me a chill just thinking about it.

You may think it seems a little early to be thinking about the holidays, but Diana Garcia is already fully involved in planning for them. Diana, a former cancer patient at Children’s, is now an intern in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, giving back to the organization that helped her through her illness.

When Diana was 11, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and underwent almost three years of treatment at Children’s. She is now cancer free, a patient in the After the Cancer Experience Program at Children’s and a senior at Southern Methodist University.

One of the things that helped Diana and her family get through her long period of treatment was the annual holiday party for childhood cancer patients at Children’s, so this year, as her main internship project, she’s organizing the party — no small task. The party normally attracts upwards of 600 people. Still, Diana and her family went to the party for several years, so she’s got a very good feeling for what an event like this entails.

When I talked to Diana, she told me there’s a reason she’s back at Children’s. She said as bad as her treatment was, the people here made it easier. She wants to do the same for other people, and planning the holiday party is one way she can give back.

The party, to be held Monday, Dec. 14, at Brookhaven Country Club, is one of those big happy affairs because it is one of the few places where children with compromised immune systems from their cancer treatments can get together in a crowd and celebrate the joys of the season. This year Diana will make sure it’s a whiz-bang, with costumed characters, presents, food and activities such as cookie decorating and face painting. It’s exactly what a children’s party should be.

If you’d like to volunteer to donate a toy or two, you can contact Diana at 214-456-8060.

From a mother whose child has swine flu

Noelle Dugan, the director of communications at Children's Medical Center, isn't a regular contributor to the blog. Even though she's penned and illustrated her own children's book, we keep her much too busy with other projects to write regularly for From the Red Balloon. But, today, she's not running from meeting to meeting or overseeing communications plans. Today, she's home with a sick child, a 5-year-old who has swine flu. (That's her adorable little peanut on the left.) Noelle's perspective is both more relevant and more poignant than anything the rest of us bloggers could draft today. So, read on:

Yesterday, my 5-year-old daughter Sydney was diagnosed with swine flu. Based on my position at Children's (director of communications), I consider myself pretty well-informed on the topic. I know what we've said about symptoms; who needs to be tested; and when you should seek emergency care. Still, recent reports of children dying from swine flu have even well-informed me a little panicked.

Lucky for me (and you), I have easy access to some of the nation's top experts in pediatric medicine. We're talking the top dogs! The chief nursing officer, the chief of infectious diseases and a list of others at Children's have responded to my concerned personal phone calls as quickly as they have returned my professional e-mails. So, here's what I'm doing to keep a watchful eye on my little one:

• I'm forcing her to drink plenty of water and juice, as well as eating soup. She needs to get as much rest as possible. (Thank goodness for all the shows we've DVR'd. She's enjoying being a couch potato.)
• She's going to have a fever for several days, possibly even a week. So, I'm giving her a fever reducer, which brings down her temperature and generally helps her feel better. If it goes higher than 103, or something that's out of our typical pattern, I'm going to call my pediatrician immediately.
• I'm paying close attention to her energy level. She's sick, so she's more worn down than usual. But, extreme fatigue, coupled with lethargy, difficulty arousing, or being non-interactive can be signs that something is seriously wrong. I'd call my pediatrician to discuss what we're experiencing, or I'd consider seeking emergency services, depending on how concerned I am by her behavior.
  
• Finally, as with the regular flu, the development of pneumonia is a serious complication that can result from the swine flu. The most significant signs of pneumonia are a high fever and difficulty breathing. I'm spending a lot of time lying with Sydney so I can monitor her breathing. If it seems labored, I'll dedicate 30 minutes to more focused monitoring. (Because she's 5, I can ask her what she's feeling. Now, Syd is a bit of a drama queen, so my monitoring is probably the best bet!) Difficulty breathing can mean she's having trouble taking deep breaths or her breathing becomes faster than usual - like she's working hard to breathe. If this is the case, I'll take Sydney to the emergency department at Children's at Legacy immediately.

My friends - the experts at Children's - reminded me our communications team has been working hard to inform the public about the flu. With this swine flu outbreak, the number of kids falling severely ill or being admitted to the hospital is consistent with what we see during each flu season. Even the unfortunate deaths we've seen have mirrored the types of situations we see with the seasonal flu.

But because the H1N1 vaccine wasn't available before the outbreak, nobody is immune, and it's spreading quickly. Thanks to the seasonal flu vaccine, we are able to protect many people from getting the most common forms of the flu virus. And whether it's H1N1 or seasonal flu, the majority of us who are affected by the flu will experience a typical, inconvenient week of fever, tiredness and...no work and no school.

So, that's the swine flu, up close and personal. At least if nothing else, you know you're not alone in the range of things you might be feeling. And although I'm not an expert, I am a mom living it in real time. Stay tuned.

Sydney, get well soon! And Noelle, don't worry. We've got everything under control at the office.

As for the rest of you, if you're interested in hearing more about the flu, download NPR's radio program To the Point. Our very own Dr. Jeffrey Kahn is one of four nationally-recognized panelists on today's program.

Home sweet home

Shaylee Crosson's going home party was fit for a princess - Cinderella to be exact.

Recently I walked into a hospital break room to find a sea of pink presents, banners, a strawberry cake and in the center of it all, a miniature princess taking it in. The 3-year-old stood tall in plastic heels, dressed up like her favorite Disney character.

But lately Shaylee's life has been anything but a fairytale. She was brutally attacked by a pit bull while riding her bike and spent two months undergoing lengthy procedures and intense physical therapy. To keep her spirits strong, visitors of all kinds encouraged her throughout the stay. And her party was no different.

Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, happened to drop by the hospital that day and we couldn't have timed it more perfectly. The two compared crowns and became fast friends.

Watch Shaylee meet Miss America...



After Stam left, Shaylee doled out hugs to her caregivers. While in the hospital, she saw a wide range of specialists including the trauma team, opthalmologists, neurologists, infectious disease specialists, orthopedists and physical therapists. Child life specialists and even a play therapist that helps kids resolve trauma created a special bond with Shaylee. They rotated overnight shifts to help her resolve recurring nightmares.

"Shaylee is very strong," said Kristin Fuhrmann, LPC, registered play therapist. "Even after her accident, Shaylee showed her love for animals by nurturing and caring for stuffed animals during our play sessions."

In the midst of all the celebrating, Shaylee's parents are relieved that, even though she continues on the road to recovery, the sparkle in their daughter's eyes is back.

"This experience hasn't broken her spirit," said Laci, Shaylee's mom. "She's still happy-go-lucky and can light up a room in an instant."

After her goodbyes, the little princess headed home with a sweet ending to her hospital stay.

Small steps and big steps

When Jack Maurer started kindergarten this year, he took what is normally considered a big step in the journey through childhood. But actually, kindergarten could be considered a small step for Jack based on what he’s been through in his young life.

You see, Jack was diagnosed in April 2007 at Children’s Medical Center with Wilms’ tumor. He was operated on the next day. Thanks to the expertise of doctors at Children’s with this particular form of cancer, during 5-1/2 hours of surgery, Dr. Michael Skinner and an oncology surgical team removed a 6-pound tumor, Jack’s right kidney, his adrenal gland and his ureter.

After that, he went through 19 weeks of chemotherapy and follow-up for two years. In August 2009, Jack and his family celebrated two years of him being cancer free, a huge step. He had his last six-month appointment with his primary oncologist, Dr. Tim McCavit, on Sept. 18.

Jack, now 5-1/2, loves kindergarten and has made the transition well from pre-school, said his mom, Amy Maurer. After that, it’s on to first grade.

Jack’s about to take another step in his journey. He’s entering the After the Cancer Experience (ACE) Program at Children’s.

ACE is sponsoring a conference to celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Children’s Medical Center designed for childhood cancer survivors, families and anyone affected by childhood cancer. You can also follow the ACE Program on Facebook.

Hundreds rise up to a tough challenge

Last week we were gearing up for the TX TOUGH 2009 Bike Bash - a 6.2-mile, traffic-free bike ride that started at Victory Park and ran through downtown Dallas. I'm happy to report that hundreds of people laced up their shoes and toughed it out to ride in honor of the patients at Children's.

One such patient is 11-year-old Tatum Null who was out at the event to support the place that saved her life. Tatum underwent a liver transplant in 2005 and since then she has given back by supporting the hospital in a number of ways.

Read more about Tatum and the TX TOUGH event.

Helpful information on the flu

Where's Emily Post when you need her? Someone needs to tell the flu it's rude to show up early. (Come to think of it, it' s rude to show up at all, when uninvited!) In typical years, the virus has hit during the fall and winter months. But, this year, influenza viruses are making the rounds already.

I know it's easy to get nervous about this year's flu season, especially with the new H1N1 virus making major headlines every day. And as a pregnant woman, myself, I'm definitely keeping a close eye on the news and counting down the days until the H1N1 vaccine is available!

But, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is doing a great job keeping its web site updated with information, complete with podcasts and YouTube videos. Gotta' love this technology - the CDC will even text message you updates if you're in to that sort of thing.

Whether you're looking for tips for keeping kids flu-free (I'll let you in on a secret - good ol' handwashing is still one of the best ways!); the differences between a cold and the flu; or if you should cancel that trip to Disney World, the CDC has got you covered.

And if you're worried about whether your sniffling, sneezing little guy needs to see a doctor, take comfort in knowing that most people with flu-like symptoms will recover without ever needing to see a physician. In fact, unless symptoms are serious, it's probably best to avoid crowded doctor's offices and hospitals where contagious patients are seeking care. Find out exactly when and where you should seek care for flu-like symptoms.

It's a germy world out there, but we're learning more about these viruses every day. Get smart and stay healthy!

Let's talk tennis

Serena's un-ladylike outburst at last weekend's U.S. Open made headlines, but I'd like to think 17-year-old Melanie Oudin's Cinderella story will linger longer in people's memories.

Maybe I suffer from Pollyanna syndrome (at least it's not the flu!), but I like to see hardworking athletes with good attitudes succeed. (My husband still contends the foot fault call was a joke.)

If you run with the cockeyed optimist crowd like I do, you'll be excited to learn more about the Children Helping Children Junior Singles Tennis Tournament this October 2 - 4. Kids ages 8 - 18 are invited to grab their rackets and pass the hat to raise money for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's.

For 19 years, Pam and Ken Sumrow have helped organize this fund-raising tourney in honor of their son, who at age 5, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma. Doctors at Children's found a cure for Clint's cancer, and as a way to say thanks, the Sumrows gathered their family and friends to play tennis and pay it forward. Today, their handsome and healthy son teaches tennis lessons - pretty neat how the world works sometimes, isn't it?

Nearly 20 years later, the Sumrows still get choked up when they reminisce about their family's experience.



If you've got a little tennis pro in-the-making living at your house or if you want to sponsor an athlete at this year's tournament, check out the web site and learn how to get involved. An online auction, which also raises money for the hospital, is already open and taking bids. And let's hear it for all the athletes out there who inspire goodness in others and create their own fairytale endings.

A sweet celebration

Hannah Collie's fifth birthday was a miracle in more ways than one. Many times during Hannah's hospital stay she was teetering between life and death. Not only did Hannah pull through to celebrate her special day, but she also met the mom of her heart donor, who also was turning one year older.

Hannah was diagnosed at birth with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome - the entire left side didn't work. In 2007, she was placed on the heart transplant list. Just days later, Jalen Taylor, the same age as Hannah, died from shaken baby syndrome, and his mom, Shirlonda, donated his organs. Dr. Kristine Guleserian implanted Jalen's heart in Hannah's chest. Hannah recently experienced rejection along with bleeding in her intestines and lungs and spent 59 days in the hospital fighting for her life.

But Hannah couldn't have had a more perfect ending to her stay.

"It's unbelievable," said Amanda, Hannah's mom. "Hannah's here, and she's here because of Shirlonda and Jalen and God."

And Shirlonda said seeing Jalen live through Hannah and feeling his heart beat in her chest was an amazing birthday gift.

Watch Hannah's birthday party where she meets Shirlonda for the first time: