Public Play Areas + Germs = Sick Baby

When Eli turned ONE we discovered through a "simple" blood draw that he had not only low iron, but he also had something called "neutropenia".  Neutropenia is when the neutrophils in your blood are low and this makes it very hard for someone to fight off infection. 

So over the course of 1 years we have been watching this very closely as well as drawing his blood MULTIPLE times.  I think I cry more than he does....before we go....during...and after!  It is hard to HOLD a strong little boy down on a Dr's table along with the help of 2 other RN's.  In fact after one blood draw he was so angry about the whole thing that once we let him go he RIPPED the bandaid off his arm as fast as he could...hence he had not stopped bleeding yet and the room looked like a CRIME scene!

So After many blood draws and thoroughly SCARING my little boy of anyone wearing scrubs his numbers were still too low at his 2 year well child check up (March 2012).  So we got the referral to see a Hematology/Oncologist at U of M Mott's Children's Hospital.  I was NOT looking forward to yet another group of people poking and touching my baby. 

However, about a week and a half before Eli's appt we went to the local indoor playhouse called the Tree House.  We met one of Carter's friends from preschool to play.  The kids had a blast...but out gift from that few hours of fun came later...

About 2 days following our fun afternoon at the Tree House Eli came down with a fever on a Friday night.  It was quite low, so a dose of Tylenol was given and we thought nothing more....until Saturday afternoon.  All of the sudden BUMPS started showing up all over his skin.  He had them on his bottom, legs, in his mouth, on his chin and cheeks, elbows and his HANDS were the worst.

 These are pictures of the sores after he was diagnosed, so if you can believe it they were even WORSE than this.

I took him in to see the Dr Monday morning.  She agreed with me he had HFM (Hand Foot and Mouth) but he also got a secondary infection that appears on elbows, legs and cheeks.  Not to mention all of his sores were INFECTED!  It was terrible.  He was itching so badly and saying "TING" for sting and always wanted us to put cream on for him. 

We figured that due to his constant battle with eczema along with his low neutrophils he had a hard time fight against this infection.  I felt so badly for him.  We had the Dr stumped at first when we showed up with these sores...I can't even remember the name of the other CRAZY skin infection he had.  But 10 days of antibiotics, LOTS of bacitracin cream and benadryl the sores began to improve.  But the sores on his legs have taken MUCH longer to fade.  Now about 8 weeks later they are just finally going away. 

But due to this sever break-out it further confirmed his need to see a specialist about the low neutrophils.  Now picture this...a 28lb 2 year old boy terrified of anyone in scrubs...I'm 9 months pregnant and we have to go to the hospital to see this specialist...not fun.  Thankfull Grandma Edwards came with us to help out.  Eli was glued to me and the poor guy was so scared.  I couldn't blame him...he had been through a lot.  But to make a long story short...he has something called "Benign Neutropenia of Childhood".  So he can actually fight off infection because he has good bone marrow that can produce neutrophils he just has low peripheral neutrophils.  They believe that he will and * should * outgrow this by the age of 4.  But we will just see them again in September.

He was a trooper and had been through a lot!  But came out healthy.  However ever since that experience he always asks if something will give him "OWIES"  he is is scared of things hurting!  What have I done to my son?  Lessons learned at our house...wash wash wash the hands and sanitize all the time.  And we will NOT be visiting any "INDOOR PLAY PLACES" any time soon!