This page is meant to be the central repository of information regarding Cassies medical updates, ways that friends can help and a place to send get well wishes and uplifting messages. Here is a summary of what has occurred and where we stand right now: On Tuesday, November 25th, Cassie was sent home from school with a massive nosebleed, headache and some nausea. This was the first of any kind of symptoms. She tried to join in the Thanksgiving festivities, but wasnt feeling herself. Friday, November 28th in the early morning hours, she indicated to her parents that she felt like she was going to get sick. It was at that point that she indicated she was having trouble seeing. Her parents took her to the ER at Toledo Hospital and were told that because her potassium and blood pressure were through the roof and a blood panel revealed her to be in kidney failure, she would need to be life flighted to the University of Michigans CS Mott Childrens Hospital. Despite earlier reports of various diagnosis, there has NOT been a diagnoses made as of this posting. It was decided to immediately put Cassie on dialysis. In the process of preparation and inserting the required catheters, one of the guide wires was not properly removed and this caused the wire to slip into her blood vessel. Unfortunately, this required an unexpected surgery to remove the wire which delayed efforts to stabilize her blood pressure and put Cassie on dialysis. The intent was to allow the dialysis to help clean up her kidneys so that a biopsy could be taken to figure out the origin of the failure. Unfortunately, on Sunday, December 30th, after 3 days of dialysis, doctors have concluded that Cassies kidneys are only at 3% of productivity and they will not be able to be repaired enough to function on their own, nor are they strong enough to withstand a biopsy. Cassie WILL NEED a transplant. While we are all very eager to find out what we need to do to line up potential donors, it is essential that we figure out what the cause of the kidney failure is in order to insure that Cassies system will not re-attack the transplant. On December 2, doctors received positive blood test results that indicated the presence of ANCA (Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies). The mere presence of these antibodies are indicative of several different possible disorders, but her nephrologists have narrowed it down to one of two possible disorders: Wegeners granulomatosis (AKA granulomatosis with polyangiitis ) or Microscopic polyangitis. They have ordered blood tests that can rule out or allow them to make a diagnosis of one of the two, but THERE ARE other disorders that are possible with the presence of these antibodies in the event that both are ruled out. They key is that this is most likely the origin of the kidney failure, therefore may be the key to being able to diagnose Cassie and then move on to finding a donor. Other keys findings are that the doctors have rules out that it is hereditary, which as I am sure you understand was a relief to Cassies parents because this isnt something they have to worry about in Cassies siblings. Where do we go from here? They will be inserting a permanent catheter today which will enable Cassie to have more mobility and is much more comfortable than the ones she has now. While we pin down a diagnosis and continue dialysis, Cassie will remain at U of M until next week. Then, she will go home, however she will be returning to the hospital in Ann Arbor 3-4 times a week for 3 hours at a time for her dialysis. The goal is to get her systems stable again so that they can be ready to receive a transplant under the best conditions. This is expected to anywhere from 3-6 months. If you are considering being a donor, we are working on gathering that information as well at this time. In the meantime, please consider signing up for meal donations through the mealtrain link on this page. This link allows you to sign up for days to contribute a meal to the Paige family while they are constantly at the hospital and going back and forth between picking up the other siblings and attending dialysis appointments. Hope that fills in some of the blanks.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:46:27 +0000
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