Baby Ryan Back In Hospital Infant’s Condition Doesn’t Appear To Be ‘Life-Threatening’

Baby Ryan, whose recovery from bowel and kidney problems defied doctors’ predictions, was back in the hospital Sunday with a fever.

Ryan Nguyen was in fair condition, said Scott Casey, spokesman at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.

“We’re looking for the cause of the fever right now; it is unknown at this time but does not appear to be life-threatening,” he said. “Most of the people I’ve been talking to so far have been playing it down.”

Still, he added, “They’re going to be a little more careful with a baby with his history.”

Baby Ryan was born Oct. 27 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where doctors advised his parents to let the child die.

Prior to birth, the placenta had separated from his mother’s uterine wall, cutting off oxygen to vital organs.

Born eight weeks premature, Ryan suffered from kidney failure, a bowel obstruction and possible brain damage.

Ryan’s parents, Darla and Nghia Nguyen, went to court to force the hospital to continue dialysis.

That’s when Dr. Randall Jenkins, a kidney specialist at Legacy Emanuel, came forward.

Under Jenkins’ care, Ryan underwent bowel surgery and eventually was removed from dialysis.

On March 6, he was well enough to go home under 24-hour nursing care.

Ryan was readmitted to the hospital at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, Casey said.