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RHAZ - USA
Ultra Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Treatment: IV antibiotics during labor & delivery Age Harmed: 5 months, 2weeks |
At 4am on April 28th my son woke up whimpering, he was 5.5 months. When I checked his temp it was at 102.4F. Thank God we live near one of the best children’s hospital in the world, Boston Children’s Hospital, and after getting bad service at our local hospital we went AMA and headed to Boston, best decision of my life.
Regardless of giving my son Tylenol, his fever would not subside. He couldn’t keep anything down so doctors assumed he had a GI bug due to the fact his urine and bloodwork came back clear, but they decided to admit him for observation anyway. My son was very lethargic by the time we were assigned a room, he was jaundice and vomiting constantly. They repeated bloodwork later that afternoon and this time realized he was septic. As they were delivering the news I noticed my son had bulging fontanels so they went ahead and did a lumbar puncture, (my son was so sick he didn’t even budge when they did it), in which they concluded he also had meningitis. The origin had still not been determined. He was transferred that night to ICU. His fevers continued and after a couple days they concluded that my son had transmitted GBS. Doctors that had been in the field for 20+ years were so astonished with how late my son was affected by GBS given the fact he was almost 6 months and it was very rare for him to get it this late in life. We were in ICU for 4 days and all together in the hospital for 15 days. He received antibiotics throughout his stay. We were released from the hospital on Mother’s Day, best Mother’s Day gift I could’ve received given my situation.
Today my son is fully recovered. He’s accomplishing his milestones thus far with no issues. Doctors say if we wouldn’t have brought our son in as fast as we did the outcome would not have been so positive. As a parent, especially a first time mom, this was the hardest situation I’ve ever had to go through. Months later I still find myself crying alone because my son had to go through this horrific situation at such a young age. I’m beyond grateful he was lucky enough to come out of this alive and healthy but the situation was so traumatic that it still upsets me. The not knowing is what bothers me the most. Doctors blamed this situation as simply “bad luck” because it was too late in life for him to have transmitted it from me. I don’t know what I’m suppose to protect my son from so it’s a daily scare. I’m traumatized with the fact that if I hadn’t reacted the way I did I wouldn’t wake up daily to my son's beautiful smile and loving eyes. I tend to ask myself why? Why my son? Again, I’m beyond, BEYOND grateful for the outcome but when you go through something so negative in your life you can’t help but ask yourself “why”? Parents listen to your gut, if you feel there’s something wrong with your child it’s because there is. My story had a happy ending, and yours hopefully can too if you know the signs so you can react quickly and know when to not take no for an answer.
I hope no parent has to experience this but if they do I wish nothing but positive outcomes. Know that you’re not alone in this and you’re not the first or last to experience this. Stay positive and stay strong for the sake of your child. This is when they need you the most.
— Johanna Duran, USA
Regardless of giving my son Tylenol, his fever would not subside. He couldn’t keep anything down so doctors assumed he had a GI bug due to the fact his urine and bloodwork came back clear, but they decided to admit him for observation anyway. My son was very lethargic by the time we were assigned a room, he was jaundice and vomiting constantly. They repeated bloodwork later that afternoon and this time realized he was septic. As they were delivering the news I noticed my son had bulging fontanels so they went ahead and did a lumbar puncture, (my son was so sick he didn’t even budge when they did it), in which they concluded he also had meningitis. The origin had still not been determined. He was transferred that night to ICU. His fevers continued and after a couple days they concluded that my son had transmitted GBS. Doctors that had been in the field for 20+ years were so astonished with how late my son was affected by GBS given the fact he was almost 6 months and it was very rare for him to get it this late in life. We were in ICU for 4 days and all together in the hospital for 15 days. He received antibiotics throughout his stay. We were released from the hospital on Mother’s Day, best Mother’s Day gift I could’ve received given my situation.
Today my son is fully recovered. He’s accomplishing his milestones thus far with no issues. Doctors say if we wouldn’t have brought our son in as fast as we did the outcome would not have been so positive. As a parent, especially a first time mom, this was the hardest situation I’ve ever had to go through. Months later I still find myself crying alone because my son had to go through this horrific situation at such a young age. I’m beyond grateful he was lucky enough to come out of this alive and healthy but the situation was so traumatic that it still upsets me. The not knowing is what bothers me the most. Doctors blamed this situation as simply “bad luck” because it was too late in life for him to have transmitted it from me. I don’t know what I’m suppose to protect my son from so it’s a daily scare. I’m traumatized with the fact that if I hadn’t reacted the way I did I wouldn’t wake up daily to my son's beautiful smile and loving eyes. I tend to ask myself why? Why my son? Again, I’m beyond, BEYOND grateful for the outcome but when you go through something so negative in your life you can’t help but ask yourself “why”? Parents listen to your gut, if you feel there’s something wrong with your child it’s because there is. My story had a happy ending, and yours hopefully can too if you know the signs so you can react quickly and know when to not take no for an answer.
I hope no parent has to experience this but if they do I wish nothing but positive outcomes. Know that you’re not alone in this and you’re not the first or last to experience this. Stay positive and stay strong for the sake of your child. This is when they need you the most.
— Johanna Duran, USA
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.