The gift of being heard

When Keira Kelley started collapsing shortly after her first birthday, her parents were terrified. But what was almost as upsetting was the feeling that no one believed something was actually wrong with their daughter. “The first time it happened, she tripped over a chair and was unconscious and grey,” says Kate, her mom. “My husband thought she was gone. He called 911, and when the EMTs arrived she started to come to. They thought maybe she had the wind knocked out of her.” The Kelleys took her to urgent care near their home in Norwood, but she seemed okay, so they chalked it up to a one-time fluke. Another episode, and then another Ten days later, she collapsed again, during a visit to her pediatrician. “Keira went grey and didn’t respond, but it was only for 5 or 10 seconds,” says Kate. “It was really scary, but a bunch of doctors and nurses rushed in to examine her. They told me she was okay, and she had probably just fainted.” Kate and Keira on the beach Kate tried to explain that the same thing had happened a few days before, and expressed her concern that it was more than a fainting spell, but her fears were dismissed. Over the next 28 hours, Keira had three more of these episodes. Kate brought her to their local hospital, hoping for another answer. “They told me she was breath-holding and that her brain would eventually tell her to breathe,” says Kate. “I kept repeating, ‘No, I know it’s something more than that.’ I felt like I was beggin...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Dr. Doug Mah Dr. Kathy Jenkins Electrophysiology Service pacemaker Pacemaker and ICD Program Source Type: news