Visitors from Michigan find local caring

When Detroit residents Brett and Karleen Stanley packed up their car for a family camping vacation in Idaho, they had no idea they would be spending the remainder of their summer at a Spokane hospital.

While camping with their children — Craig, 10, Kassandra, 8, Keera, 6, and toddler Caleb — on the St. Joe River near St. Maries, Caleb became ill.

What began as a typical cold with a runny nose quickly escalated into bloody diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

On July 17, the Stanleys took Caleb to the hospital in St. Maries. Blood-test results appeared normal, and he was treated with antibiotics and released.

Two days later Caleb appeared lethargic. He was jerking in his sleep and couldn’t hold any food down. Then for a moment he rallied, opened his arms and said “Daddy” before he collapsed with a seizure.

Caleb was taken to the Avery Ranger Station, and an ambulance from St. Maries rushed to meet them. Caleb and his mom were airlifted to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Doctors evaluated Caleb for meningitis, childhood seizure disorder and West Nile virus. Because specialists had treated another patient last October for TTP HUS, they were able to quickly diagnose the disease.

Doctors told the Stanleys that there was a one-in-a-million chance that Caleb would contract this disease.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or TTP, is a rare disease in which small blood clots form suddenly throughout the body.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS, is a disorder in which the number of platelets suddenly decreases, red blood cells are destroyed, and the kidneys stop functioning.

According to Julie Graham, spokesperson for Spokane County Health Department, TTP HUS is a secondary manifestation of a primary condition. While the original condition may have been reported, reporting of TTP HUS is not mandatory, so exact numbers aren’t available.

However, according to the Stanleys, they were told this is the fifth episode recently treated in Spokane.

Over the past five weeks Caleb’s progress has been up and down. He was given platelet and blood transfusions to treat the TTP HUS.

His kidneys shut down, and he was on dialysis for several weeks.

He underwent surgery to repair a perforation in his bowel, and six inches of his colon was removed.

Caleb and his parents spent his second birthday, Aug. 12, in the pediatric intensive-care unit at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Caleb remains in ICU with several tubes coming out of his small body. They are now waiting for his lungs to heal and for him to have the strength to breathe on his own.

They don’t know when he’ll be well enough to return home.

His brother and sisters are staying with grandparents in Montana. The Stanleys are living at Ronald McDonald House when they aren’t at Caleb’s bedside.

Brett Stanley works for the Department of Homeland Security and said his employer has been very supportive. He has met employees from the local office.

“Since I’ve been here, the local Homeland Security people have made me feel like family,” said Stanley.

“We plan to stay here until he’s better,” said Karleen Stanley, a stay-at-home mom. She said doctors have told them that Caleb should make a full recovery.

The Stanleys are grateful for the outpouring of support from the Spokane community. Many churches in the area have been particularly helpful, especially the Berean Bible Church, Southside Christian Church and Northview Bible Church.

A prayer chain that reaches around the world is praying for the toddler and his family.

The Stanleys have become very close to the doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

“We can’t say enough about this place. It’s been absolutely amazing. Everyone works so well together,” said Karleen Stanley.

“Everyone is so nice here — the doctors, nurses, the people in housekeeping,” said Brett Stanley. “The nurses are competent and at the same time empathic and caring.”

Their advice for other parents: “Moms know their kids best. Don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t seem right,” said Karleen Stanley.

“If your child has certain symptoms; high fever, red blotches, bloody diarrhea or seizures, get help immediately,” said Brett Stanley.