Get Well Soon!
by barffie
Earlier this year, she celebrated her 6th birthday. Always talkative and inquisitive… but she’s now fighting for her life in hospital as I type away.
She had been ill for around 2 weeks with what seemed like the usual flu. The GP reassured my sister a couple of times that her high heart rate is normal for a child, much to her skepticism. On Sunday, Rachel was lethargic and barely moving as she sat around listlessly.
Last night, I got an SMS from my 2nd sis that the little niece had been admitted to the hospital and was directly warded in the ICU. That must be something very serious to be admitted to a ward where beds are scarce and the costs are high.
She is down with pneumonia, causes unknown, and the infection had spread from her right lung to the left, at a speed so fast that the medical team was not able to bring it under control as quickly as they’d like. After multiple blood tests and everything… they found the infection in her bloodstream, and it was only a matter of time before it attacks the vital organs.
And that, is bad.
Sepsis (some call it blood poisoning – but description is inaccurate) is a very serious condition which can be fatal as the vital organs might shut down.
Currently, her heart is slightly infected, but the medical team are pumping drugs in her to protect her heart and lungs. They are unable to pump drugs to protect her liver and kidneys, until the organs show signs of being infected. Probably she is too young for that kind of treatment as her organs are still under-developed at her tender age.
My sister is hanging on strong, but she’s definitely worried sick. For an optimistic, jovial lady like her… she is not doing well. Waiting on 24-hour standby at the freezing waiting lounge is horrendous, at the very least.
Seeing her daughter plugged into machines with tubes sticking out of everywhere, is a even more heartbreaking sight. Her mouth constantly bled with the abrasion caused by the breathing tubes.
Sigh.
The only thing I could do now is to offer emotional and financial support for my sister. Just in case.
I got Rachel a Dora helium balloon (that shop at the hospital makes a lot of money from such gifts -_- I am sure…) and I hope she wakes up soon to see it.
Get well soon! Everyone missed your voice and you poking around as usual…
Update:
After a week in ICU, Rachel is doing well! She has been transferred to a normal ward and her breathing tubes have been removed! I am so so so glad. 
I will be heading over tomorrow to pass her the DS-Lite. Hope she’ll like it.