Erin Evershed
Erin is now 18 months old, but at 15 months she suffered three strokes. She had chickenpox at the time, but just wasn't getting better and after several doctors visits was sent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where after three days myself and the doctors realised she wasn't moving her right hand side and her eyes were all over the place, her heart consultant came to see her and said immediately that he thought she had had a stroke, (5 weeks previously she had a Persistant Ductus Arteriosis closed via a catheter).
She was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital, where she remained in Intensive Care for about a week, we were basically told that she may not survive - but she fought like mad and pulled through. After hundreds of tests and pints of blood taken, they told us that she had Endocarditis, and would need weeks of antibiotics. This had caused her Mitral Valve to leak severly and would need a replacement. With the strokes she also developed a occipital brain abscess, and would need antibiotics to shrink that.
When she was well enough, Erin was transferred from Intensive Care to E1, Ocean Ward, with the most caring team of doctors and nurses you could ever meet. They looked after Erin and myself so well, as at the time I was 31 weeks pregnant with my third child. We stayed on E1 for 10 weeks, having antibiotic treatment, and lots of input from neurology as well as cardiology, and lots of rehabilitation as Erin has a right sided hemiplegia due to the left side of the brain being affected.
On May 14th Erin had her Mitral Valve replaced, and recovered remarkably well considering all she had been through. One week later I gave birth in Southampton General to a baby girl, assisted by a wonderful staff nurse, as my husband was to far away to get there on time!
Now we are finally home all together again, after an absolutely horrendous 3 months, we even moved house during this time! Erin is very well, she gets very frustrated, as before all this happened, she was running around, now she cannot even sit unaided. But she has come such a long way, she is a remarkable little girl and we are very very proud of her - she is amazing.
Erin Update
Erin will be 3 years old come January 2004, and has shown remarkable improvement over the last 18 months. Unfortunately, she has lost the sight of her right eye, and is still a little reluctant to use her right arm fully, but she has made a great effort in learning to walk again. She can now walk several steps unaided, and goes further with every new day. We believe that seeing her younger sister Sofie getting about, has been a big inspiration to Erin, to try that little bit harder. Comparing her today, to those dark months, not so long ago, is a positive joy, and as the photograph proves, she is growing up to be a real beauty. (Well I would say that, wouldn't I?)
Thanks to Erins mum& Grandad for sending in her profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)
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