humbled by KAWASAKI

zjust last week, my little man (the adorable nephew) was rushed to the hospital after about 5 days of being down with fever and swollen tonsils to the extent that he refuses to take in solids. when he got to the hospital, he was made to undergo several tests. after such tests, his doctor came up with the findings that my smart aleck nephew is afflicted with the so-called kawasaki disease. although we have heard about it and the myth that such a disease is acquired from buying ukay-ukay, we have so much to learn about the disease especially since that is what my nephew has.

so, what is kawasaki?
according to my internist sister and my nephew's doctor, kawasaki disease is an ailment which mostly afflicts yougster below 6 years old who are mostly boys (my nephew is 4 years old). the symptoms are:

1. High-grade fever (greater than 39 °C or 102 °F; often as high as 40 °C or 104 °F) that normally lasts for more than a week if left untreated.
2. Red eyes (conjunctivitis) without pus or drainage, also known as "conjunctival injection"
   Bright red, chapped, or cracked lips
3. Red mucous membranes in the mouth
4. Strawberry tongue, white coating on the tongue or prominent red bumps (papillae) on the back of the tongue
5. Red palms of the hands and the soles of the feet
6. Swollen hands and feet
7. Rash which may take many forms, but not vesicular (blister-like), on the trunk
8. Swollen lymph nodes (frequently only one lymph node is swollen), particularly in the neck area
9. Joint pain (arthralgia) and swelling, frequently symmetrical
10. Irritability
11. Tachycardia (rapid heart beat)
12. Peeling (desquamation) palms and soles (later in the illness); peeling may begin around the nails (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_disease)

of these symptoms, my nephew manifested symptoms number 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. other symptoms not mentioned above is the high count of white blood cells (WBC) and the high level of pus found in urine which is seemingly a urinary tract infection (UTI). these symptoms were also manifested by my nephew.

after the disclosure of the doctor's findings, we were apprised of the possible consequences, of the medication which should be administered as well as the cost. at that time, the money was no longer a question because we would have moved heaven and earth, if need be, to save my nephew.

according to his pediatrician, had the disease been detected outside the period of 10 days from the time he had fever, it would have been fatal. because the disease primarily has cardiac complications. in some, only one artery of the heart is dilated but in my nephew's case, both arteries are dialted. what is crucial about the ten-day period is that, if the medication (a.k.a. wonder drug - IVIg intravenous immuno-globulin) is not given within that period, the chances that the arteries will rupture is big and that is FATAL. luckily, my nephew was given the drug on the 7th day. indeed, the effects of the drug are miraculous. it was as if the symptoms were slowly eradicated. one by one, the physical manifestations of the disease were replaced with the normal, healthy appearance of my nephew.

in all those days that we spent at the hospital, i could say that it is so hard to see and hear a 5-year old yelp, wail and scream in pain. i would give everything just so i could be the one inflicted with the pain. it was a good thing we always remind my intrepid nephew at how we would have all of the nurses and medical staff be chastised and reprimanded by my father. haha, lolo's boy kasi. i mean, after all, he wants to be adopted by his lolo and be our youngest sibling.

hay.. THANK YOU LORD. You have and still are good to us. we continue to ask for your guidance so that in the days to come, my nephew's arteries will be normal and will not dilate anymore.

indeed, we have spent much for his treatment but money is just money. it can still be earned. but my nephew, he is just the only one and he means the world to us.