Kelsey's hospital stay

Recently, Kelsey contracted E coli. We don't know where she got it, but it could have been the petting zoo at Queen's Park, or anywhere. She ran a fever for 2 days, and the diarrhea started the next day. She had major cramps with the pooping (1-4 poops an hour), would not eat, and couldn't sleep. We took her to the horpital on the first night because she couldn't sleep and we were worried about dehydration. They sent us home and said let it run its course. We took her to our family doc the next day who basically said the same thing. And the following day she was so lethargic, dehydrated and still pooping, we took her back to the hospital who admitted her, started her on fluids and ran some tests. Thank goodness! I had spent the last 2 days feeling that she had something more than a stomach virus, and was so worried that Everly was going to catch whatever Kelsey had. It was a reief to know someone was going to help us!

The staff and nurses in Pediatrics at SMH were so great. They were so terrific and caring with Kelsey - special stuffies for her to take home, any toy she wanted to play with, any movie she wanted to watch, popsicles, bubbles to distract her from the needle pokes, stickers, funny stories and songs! We felt very much at home, and although Kelsey felt so awful, I'm not sure she'll remember the hospital visit as a negative experience because she was treated so wonderfully there.

Eventually after what seemed like an eternity, the pooping has slowed and turned back to normal and the cramps are gone. She's still got a couple more blood tests to take (there was some concern about her kidneys after a urine sample containing blood and proteins), but after 10 days it looks like this illness has run it's course and that she's going to be OK. Not an experience I'd like to repeat. All I can say is WASH YOUR HANDS ALL THE TIME!

SMH staff using bubbles to distract her from the IV they were trying to put in

In her big girl bed with her sock monkey SMH gave her