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DYLAN GRACE HOFFMAN — USA
Lived March 31, 2019 - September 7, 2019 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Unknown Gestational Age: 28 weeks Age Harmed: 5 months |
We had a relatively uneventful NICU journey with a bit of feeding struggles at the end. Dylan did not require any surgeries and had no apparent developmental issues.
When she was 4 months and 3 weeks old she got a fever of 103. We immediately called nurse triage and were informed about how common fevers are and are not alarming for babies over 3 months old. The fever persisted over the next couple days that led us to call nurses 2 more times and go into our pediatrician's office. It was determined that the fever was on its way out and it was probably a stomach bug. We continued with increased fluids and tylenol but after 72 hours of continued fever from 99.5-103 degrees, we went into the emergency room. A urine sample was taken and bacteria was present so we were prescribed antibiotics for a UTI and sent home.
The following morning, 96 hours since the fever began, Dylan had a seizure at home so we returned to the ER. She had no bulging soft spot, and primary symptoms were continued fever and now seizure activity. Once admitted, she had another seizure prompting the staff to do a lumbar puncture. The results came back positive for GBS and was diagnosed with meningitis (with a now bulging soft spot). The seizures could be stopped with ativan and she was put on two anti-seizure medications.
She went 48 hours with no seizures and was able to start bottle feeding again. Her MRI showed no stroke damage, no blood flow issues and looked good overall other than fluid gathering on one side of brain. We drained the fluid and it tested positive for large amounts of GBS despite the lumbar puncture being nearly clear. The seizures then returned and were unable to be controlled with medication so Dylan was placed in a medically induced coma for 48 hours. Once pulled out, she continued to have uncontrollable seizures which led to a second medically induced coma, this time for 72 hours. Once she awoke, she was seizing about 30-40% of the time despite being on 4 different anti-seizure medications.
After a 2 week fight, Dylan's heart began to give way and her rest of her body began to fail. She spent her final moments in mom and dad's arms as we sang and rocked her. We will never understand some things on this side of Heaven but we know she is in good hands and we will see her again!
- Kayln Hoffman
When she was 4 months and 3 weeks old she got a fever of 103. We immediately called nurse triage and were informed about how common fevers are and are not alarming for babies over 3 months old. The fever persisted over the next couple days that led us to call nurses 2 more times and go into our pediatrician's office. It was determined that the fever was on its way out and it was probably a stomach bug. We continued with increased fluids and tylenol but after 72 hours of continued fever from 99.5-103 degrees, we went into the emergency room. A urine sample was taken and bacteria was present so we were prescribed antibiotics for a UTI and sent home.
The following morning, 96 hours since the fever began, Dylan had a seizure at home so we returned to the ER. She had no bulging soft spot, and primary symptoms were continued fever and now seizure activity. Once admitted, she had another seizure prompting the staff to do a lumbar puncture. The results came back positive for GBS and was diagnosed with meningitis (with a now bulging soft spot). The seizures could be stopped with ativan and she was put on two anti-seizure medications.
She went 48 hours with no seizures and was able to start bottle feeding again. Her MRI showed no stroke damage, no blood flow issues and looked good overall other than fluid gathering on one side of brain. We drained the fluid and it tested positive for large amounts of GBS despite the lumbar puncture being nearly clear. The seizures then returned and were unable to be controlled with medication so Dylan was placed in a medically induced coma for 48 hours. Once pulled out, she continued to have uncontrollable seizures which led to a second medically induced coma, this time for 72 hours. Once she awoke, she was seizing about 30-40% of the time despite being on 4 different anti-seizure medications.
After a 2 week fight, Dylan's heart began to give way and her rest of her body began to fail. She spent her final moments in mom and dad's arms as we sang and rocked her. We will never understand some things on this side of Heaven but we know she is in good hands and we will see her again!
- Kayln Hoffman
To learn more about Perinatal & GBS Misconceptions, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.