Help Support The 2016 Children’s Miracle Network #HelpKidsLiveBetter

This post, Children’s Miracle Network , contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. #HelpKidsLiveBetter

Four years ago we were visiting my family in Florida. It was Halloween, we had planned on going Trick or Treating with my sister and her kids in her neighborhood. It was the perfect, family friendly neighborhood to visit for Halloween.

 

Before it was time to head out, all the kids were playing in the backyard. All of a sudden I heard my oldest son scream and run into the house. He had fallen in the grass on top of a huge fire ant pile. His face and neck was covered in ants. And if you have ever been bitten by fire ants you know that they sting really bad and they are like velcro, it’s impossible to get them off of your skin.

Once the fire ants were off, we gave him Benadryl and put cool wash cloths on his face and neck. Surprisingly, his face didn’t swell up too much and he still wanted to go out for Halloween.

Later that night we went to my dad’s house and he started to get a rash around his rib cage and on the tops of his feet. We figured it was a reaction of the bite so we went home to watch it.

The next morning the tops of his feet were covered in the rash and it was on his chest and back. It was also unlike any rash I had seen before because it didn’t blanch. (That means it disappears when you press into it.)

I scheduled an appointment at his pediatrician’s office and they saw him pretty quickly. They did as many tests as they could to figure out what was wrong with him. He didn’t have much of an appetite (even with all that Halloween candy) an didn’t want to drink much. The doctor said she could do all she could do and it was best for us to send him to the children’s hospital. She mentioned all these horrible possibilities and urged us to get there as soon as we left.

I was terrified. I rushed to the hospital and they were a little baffled too. They ran some more tests and figured out he had a type of Vasculitis called Henoch-Schönlein Purport.

Basically, Vasculitis is a general term for inflammation of the blood vessels, which include arteries, veins and capillaries. With inflammation — a process that causes swelling and irritation — blood vessels may become narrow or even blocked. Inflammation can also weaken blood vessel walls. The blood vessels can become clogged and heavy causing problems in the intestines and kidneys.

They had such a hard time diagnosing it because most of the time the blood pools in the rear of their bodies because they are sitting or lying down. Nate spend the whole night walking so the blood pooled in his feet. It took about a week for him to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Once he no longer had symptoms, he had to have his urine checked weekly and monthly scans of his kidneys for a whole year.

This was the scariest week of our life and not knowing what is wrong with your child or how to get the help you need can make it more stressful.

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are here for parents and children to help them get the care they need.

About Children’s Miracle Network

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion dollars for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon.

Their mission, to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible, impacts local kids in their communities.

 

Now through October 9th you can #HelpKidsLiveBetter by donating to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at your local Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club today!

Join your community in donating to your local children’s hospital and help make miracles happen for kids when you donate at your checkout today.

Facts About Children’s Miracle Network

• Your donations help children’s hospitals provide the best care for the kids.
• Every minute 62 children enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for treatment; your donations ensure these hospitals can provide the best care for these children.
• Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the U.S. provide more than $3.5 billion in charitable care every year.
• Last year Wal-Mart customers and Sam’s Club members, like you, helped raise more than $60 million to #HelpKidsLiveBetter
• Every dollar raised at your local Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club goes directly to your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
• Since 1987 Wal-Mart customers and Sam’s Club members together with store associates have raised nearly $1 billion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The next time you are shopping at Walmart and Sam’s Club make a donation to help your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital!

Have you ever been helped by your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital