Kawasaki for Christmas... Not the Bike!

For three years now, the time span from Thanksgiving to the New Year has felt a bit different. In 2017, my oldest son was about to turn 4. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving week, and he spiked a fever. If you have kids, you know this isn’t uncommon (add Ohio weather, attendance at public daycare, and the presence of a temperature really wouldn’t phase you). When it lingered for 3 days, we took him to the pediatrician. Per usual, it was deemed a virus that had to run its course – but because there was a holiday impending, the doctor wanted to see him one more time the day before Thanksgiving.

I had my husband take him in, again feeling nonchalant about the issue. I was working that day and mentally prepared that I’d send my husband and other son off to Thanksgiving Day while I kept my oldest home. I was on a conference call when I saw the text. 

“We are taking him straight to Rainbow Babies. They think it’s something serious. I’m not even sure how to spell it.”

Fast forward through rushing off my call, getting to the ER, and seeing that my son was rapidly showing more symptoms. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips were becoming chapped, and he complained of aches and pains. The pediatrician had mentioned Kawasaki Disease. The ER tended to agree. We both paced, nervously waiting to hear more. If this was indeed the conclusion, treatment was imminent and required a blood transfusion. We had a glimpse of hope that he may have Scarlet Fever – scary, but treatment was far less complex.

All tests for other viruses were negative. What is difficult with Kawasaki Disease, is there is no conclusive test that can be done. You must simply rule out ‘everything else’. Add to that a looming timeline for treatment. Kawasaki Disease impacts the heart – specifically, it causes the coronary arteries to swell. Completely untreated, there is 25% chance children can have an aneurysm or heart attack. Ideal treatment time (the transfusion) is within 6-8 days of the fever onset. We were at day 6. After arduous hours in the ER, we were told he'd be admitted and we'd discuss treatment.

As evening approached, we agreed to move forward with the transfusion. This process would be administered later in the night, so he’d hopefully sleep through part of it. Watching him was grueling. His pain, apprehension, all the IV’s, and it was the day before Thanksgiving. My husband stayed with him overnight and the transfusion took about 6 hours. The most amazing part is the child’s response – all symptoms vanish. The eyes become clear again, lips become normalized, rashes vanish, and the fever comes down.

I took the morning shift so my husband could come home. I still remember the lukewarm turkey and mashed potatoes they brought us, with the slice of pumpkin pie on a Styrofoam plate. I remember the full hazmat-style suit every nurse, doctor and attending wore in the room due to the severity of Kawasaki. The ongoing stream of residents, EMT, nurses, and other specialists brought in to simply observe my son because Kawasaki is so rare, most do not see an incident of the disease in their career.

We had to keep my son on aspirin treatment for 6 weeks after the transfusion, and he had a myriad of echo cardiograms to ensure the coronary arteries remained unharmed from the disease. The time span from Thanksgiving until the New Year seemed to just creep along at a snail’s pace until we were deemed ‘in the clear’.  

This year, I watch him bounce from the couches shouting out items for his Christmas list. I see his brother trail right behind him, with no memory of the incident. I remind myself how grateful I am for the pediatrician who had never seen Kawasaki in a patient but felt that he had something more serious than a virus.

I hope you all treasure good health, happy kids, and everything the season brings. You can learn more about Kawasaki Disease & ongoing research through these great links:

https://www.radyfoundation.org/kdresearch

https://www.kawasakikidsfoundation.org/kawasaki-disease-symptoms/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz63n6K2r5gIVLYNaBR3okAjpEAAYAiAAEgLRmPD_BwE

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/kawasaki-disease