On the 20th of December, a small hole was discovered in Miya's hickman line during her weekly blood tests, done at home by our community nurse (whose name is Dave). We immediately aborted the blood tests and set off for Royal United Hospital in Bath, which is our local shared care facility. While we were on our way, Dave called us and told us we should go to Bristol Children's Hospital because Bath couldn't repair the line.
We waited in a small side room of the Bristol Accident & Emergency department (a HUGE no-no for post-BMT patients...sitting in an emergency room with no immune system is NEVER a good idea. Luckily, she didn't become sick as a result.) For several hours, Bristol consulted with Great Ormond Street and everyone decided we'd better go to GOSH the next day for a repair.
After the line was repaired (on the 21st of December), blood samples were taken to see if the line had become infected or contaminated during the time of the puncture.
We received a call late in the afternoon on the 22nd from GOSH, advising us that Miya had an infection, and to go immediately to RUH in Bath for IV antibiotic treatment. Miya received a small amount of antibiotic in her line, and it was locked in for 24 hours. The first three doses were done 12 hours apart, and then she received a dose every 24 hours after that, for a total of five days. It wasn't a long treatment, and even though we had to go in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it wasn't a huge ordeal.
Miya has started kissing everything (except her parents) and is a loving and lovable child. She is very bright and although she isn't speaking, she understands almost everything we say. She loves music and loves to dance. Right now, she is covered in brown hair, as a result of the immunosuppresent Cyclosporin. She has huge, fuzzy eyebrows, a furry forehead and fur around her eyes. She had furry arms, a furry back, and furry legs. This hair will fall out when the Cyclosporin stops.
Miya, Chris and I would like to wish all our readers a Very Happy New Year!!!
