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Background Breanna was born with a condition called pneumothorax (air in her chest) preventing her lungs from expanding. The doctors at Kaiser's Fontana hospital discovered the problem immediately and took the proper steps to try to correct it. Her condition was critical but stable. The next level of care for her was a respirator with nitric oxide, which is supposed to help with this condition. This wasn't available in Fontana, so on Easter Sunday morning she was transferred by helicopter to the Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles. They kept her there for less than 24 hours because even though her condition was still "critical but stable", more care was needed. A transport team from Pasadena's Huntington Memorial Hospital came and picked her up and she has now been with them for more than three weeks and is still on the ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxidation) pump. Her condition is still listed as "critical but stable". 98 percent of babies treated in this manner respond well. Breanna hasn't. Her last and only hope is either a miracle or a lung transplant. She will be transferred to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles and will be placed on the waiting list for an organ donor. The wheels are in motion for the transplant. Breanna has already made medical history and perhaps will be the youngest lung transplant recipient in history. Please keep her and us in your prayers.
Past Updates
9 May - Breanna was transferred to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, arriving at 4pm on Tuesday, 8 May. She is still on the ECMO pump at this new location and her condition is still listed as "critical but stable". She has currently has a need for blood donors and will have even greater need for blood in the event of the transplant. She has type O-positive blood, but anyone can donate platelets. Those interested can contact:
12 May - Not a good day. Breanna had been placed on a drug called Flolan, which helps open the blood vessels. At 3pm, the ECMO pump developed problems which would have resulted in blood clotting, so the pump was removed ahead of schedule. The doctors had intended for her to be on the pump a bit longer. 13 May - At 3pm today, Breanna has been on Flolan for 24 hours and, while still "critical but stable", she is responding much better than the doctors had expected. The drug seems to be doing its job and she is now ready for a lung transplant. 15 May - Breanna got her first haircut today, and appears to be stable on the Flolan medication. 17 May - Breanna had a good day. She had a bad rash and was retaining way too much fluid, but both of these problems have been corrected with proper medications. She also is either at the top or near the top of the transplant list; new lungs could come at any time and she is ready for them. 18 May - A medium size setback today. Infection, which will be agressively treated. It appears to have been detected early because she is not running a fever, however no transplant until she is clear of all infection. 21 May - Breanna seems to be responding well to the medication that combats her infection. 23 May - Symptoms of infection are cleared up, but she'll continue on the medication for another ten days (a total of 14) to make sure it's entirely eradicated. 28 May - A central line IV was removed and sent out to see if a culture grows from it. If results are negative, she may be returned to the transplant list sooner. Should know in a couple of days. 01 June - She has been transferred to the Transplant team and now has her own room on the second floor. The transplant team are now her primary care doctors and will be until she leaves the hospital. The transplant could come anytime now. Her 14 days on the antibiotics are over tomorrow. 08 June - Breanna graduated today, she now has a crib. She has gained enough weigth and needs more room than the infant baby bed provided. Now weighs 10Lbs 2oz. 12 June - This past weekend, Brianna seemed quite alert, even reacting to the action of the Lakers game on TV. But beginning Monday, her oxygen saturation level began fluctuating dangerously and it is now taking considerably more effort to try to maintain it at a safe level. She was "coded" once. The need for the lung transplant appears to be getting far more urgent, as her condition is now described as "extremely critical". We hope that she remains in your prayers. 13 June - After a rough day yesterday, Breanna made it through the night, but passed away at 2:27pm. |
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