BY KEN GAIDZIUNAS

Staff Writer

Kate was a happy and energetic four-year-old who liked gymnastics, t-ball, ponies, puppies and kitty cats. However, on Wednesday, Nov. 16, everything changed for the daughter of Anna residents Dr. Cameron and Christie Roe.

The little girl came down with an illness that was diagnosed to be an Escherichia coli (more commonly known as E. coli) infection, a bacterium that lives in peoples’ digestive tracts. The following day she was taken to McKinney Medical Center emergency room and later that same day transported to Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

On Nov. 18, Kate was confirmed to have developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a form of acute kidney failure resulting from the E. coli infection. Surgical procedures followed, first to put a pick line in her arm for multiple blood draws that were to follow and later in the day a dialysis tube was inserted in her abdomen.

Kate was monitored for 48 hours in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and on Nov. 20 she was moved into a step-down room.

New complications developed a day later, however. On Nov. 21, Kate began to vomit excessively due to the severe pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas), another complicating factor of the HUS. The next day she began to have seizures and by that afternoon it was determined that she had developed Cerebritis, a more severe complication of the HUS and she was moved back into PICU. That Tuesday night was the worst night of Kate’s illness. She was now hallucinating and did not recognize her mom and dad.

The next day, Kate’s doctor made a decision to start her on a new medication that was currently being researched to treat the condition. She remained in the PICU that week until Sunday, Nov. 27. Her progress was good and she was expected to make a full recovery.

One month after the onset of her illness, Kate was released from the hospital on Dec. 16, in time to enjoy a quiet Christmas at home with her family. Now, another month down the road and watching the bouncy little girl it’s hard to believe what Kate went through. “She’s back to her regular self,” said mom Christie. “She’s got her appetite back, the energy level has improved,” added dad Cameron.

Kate has to take it easy, however, as one of the medications she takes puts her at risk for meningitis, and she is on antibiotics for the next six months. At that time, her doctor will make a decision when she can start attending church, go back to school and resume her many other activities.

In the meantime, Kate enjoyed her first month at home. “She got to see Christmas lights, we watched many movies, and even though at times she got bored, she was happy to be at home,” Christie said.

The outpouring from the community, all the support, the benefit for Kate and all the Christmas gifts are very much appreciated by the parents. Included in that was a blood drive on Jan. 7 organized by fellow chiropractor and friend Dr. Caleb Braddock, which was “awesome”, according to Roe. “There were 73 people that donated blood, and close to 20 were turned away since they were prepared to draw blood from only 65 people,” he said. “We want to thank our church, our community and our friends.”