My name is Denise. I am the proud mother of 2 wonderful daughters, Emily and Jeanne. Emily is 5 years old. She is funny, kind, outgoing, compassionate and her teachers say she tells the best stories. Emily is a survivor of MRSA infection. Jeanne is 3 years old. She is funny, sweet, easy-going, thoughtful and her teachers say she isn’t afraid of anything! Jeanne is a survivor of MRSA infection.
I had never heard of MRSA before July 2004. I only knew that Emily got sick much more often than any of her friends did. It seemed like as soon as she finished one course of antibiotics, she got sick again and went on another course of antibiotics. After two sets of ear tubes and numerous infections, her ENT cultured the drainage from Emily’s ears. Two weeks later, the test results showed MRSA and I found out the reason why my daughter wasn’t getting better.
It was at this point that I learned about the terrible void of information available about this bacteria, even in the medical community. I began to read anything and everything about MRSA that I could get my hands on.
We took Emily to a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist. She was treated with a 5 week course of Zyvox. I took comfort in the thought that with proper diagnosis, she had a good chance of the treatment being effective. The medications that are effective against MRSA are powerful and they come with their own set of risks. Emily’s blood count had to be monitored while on the Zyvox and she had certain food restrictions. She was pretty weak from being sick for so long and MRSA seems to make a person “out of sorts.” Emily had been on many courses of antibiotics before this that had held the infection at bay, only to come back again as soon as the medication was finished. The doctors had told me that if the Zyvox didn’t work, the next step would be Vancomycin. So, we prayed a lot and, thank God, the Zyvox worked! In October, Emily was pronounced MRSA infection free!
In the meantime, Jeanne got an ear infection. She had rarely been sick until now. Her ear infection got bad really quickly and her eardrum burst. We feared the worst. The ENT cultured her infection and we were happy to find out it was not MRSA. Jeanne was treated with normal antibiotics and the infection cleared up nicely. The fluid in her ears did not. The doctor advised us to have ear tubes put in, so the fluid could drain. It was affecting her hearing and there was concern of possible hearing damage.
Of course, we were afraid that having tubes put in would make Jeanne more susceptible to getting MRSA. We asked the ENT, we asked the Infectious Disease specialist, we spoke with the pediatrician. At the time, I did not know about hospital acquired infections. I did not know that MRSA as an ear infection is extremely unusual. I did not know that the CDC defined a surgical site infection as one that occurs within one year of having a foreign body implanted. I did not know that it takes a certain amount of time for MRSA to develop into an infection or to incubate. I was simply frightened at the idea of my 3 year old having ear tubes put in. So, we waited. We postponed the surgery until Emily was considered infection free. Since the fluid was still in Jeanne’s ears, we then proceeded with her surgery.
Within 6 weeks, Jeanne had MRSA infection in both her ears. The surgeon had taken a sterile culture of the fluid when he operated, so we know she was MRSA free at that time. Over the New Year weekend, my sweet little 28 pound 3 year old had pus and blood oozing from both her ears. Her infection was cultured, she was put on Bactrim, but continued to get worse. The doctor then prescribed Zyvox for her for 3 weeks. One of the ear tubes that had just been put in got pushed out from the severity of the ear drainage. Emily had a recurrence so for a period of time, both my girls had active MRSA infection.
This was a very difficult time for me. I was very frightened. Since ear infections tend to be more painful at night, it was not unusual for me to be up and down with my children crying in pain for most of the night. I reached out for support on the internet, to help me cope with what was happening and to try to find answers out about how this could happen to two small children in one family.
Many people offered me their support at that time. When Tony Field, Chairperson of the UK MRSA Support Group, learned about my daughters’ infections from another group member, he contacted me by e-mail. Tony provided me with invaluable information and provided me with many resources. We remained in contact while my daughters’ were both ill. Emily & Jeanne call him their friend Tony from England. They would send him e-mails with smiley faces and animal pictures and Tony would send them assorted photos of animals like chickens and cats. It was a bright spot in a difficult time for our family.
Another person, from the Yahoo support group, held my girls in prayer. She prayed that God would use our situation for good. I clung to that prayer like a drowning person would cling to a life preserver, praying over and over again for my children’s health and for God to use our situation to help others.
My children have been MRSA infection free for about 3 months now, thank God. During this time, Tony and I have remained in contact. Tony and his wife Barbara offered to come to our country to help spread awareness about this infection in our country, just as they have done in their own country. My stepson, James, agreed to accompany Tony and Barbara on their tour of the USA and keep a journalistic chronicle of the trip. James introduced me to his friend and colleague, Jeff Beyrau, Director of Prizefighter Films. James, Jeff, Tony, Barbara and I all agreed that the best way to make this campaign as effective as possible was to create a documentary about MRSA and Tony’s fight against it.
Working towards creating this documentary for me is like a prayer in action. I thank God every day that my children’s infections didn’t spread and that they are both infection free and in good health today. I pray that God will use our situation for good. If one life is saved, if one limb is saved, if one family is saved from the suffering caused by MRSA infection, it will make every effort worthwhile. What happened to my children should not have happened. I can’t do anything to change that. But I can help raise awareness about this and try to prevent it from happening to others.
Contact Denise at denise@handsofhopegroup.com.
16 responses so far ↓
mayra gomez // Nov 27, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Im very proud of what you did for your daughters, im glad everything turned out great!!! Thanks for your story!
Carlla // Jan 9, 2007 at 6:22 am
Thanks for sharing your story. I have 5 children 3 months 1yr 3 yrs 5yrs and 8yrs. My chlidren, my husband, and myself are suffering from MRSA. Your story gives me hope. Everyday one of us has an outbreak I want to give up. I’ll hang on and take it 1 minute 1 hour 1 day at a time! THANKS!!
Carla DeLisle // Mar 23, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I had a severe case of MRSA in my left foot that developed after a foot surgery. I am a diabetic also. What I want to know is how can I tell if the MRSA has returned. At times I feel that it has but I have no way of knowing what to look for.
Thanks for any help or answer you can give me.
I appreciated reading about your situation and it helped me a little in understanding more about MRSA. BUT NOT ENOUGH
Carla
Jessi // Sep 5, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Your daughters story sounds so much like what I am going through now with my 2 year old twins. Both of them had problems with their ears starting around 5 months. We were constantly at the doctor and we finally went to an ENT and both of them had tubes put in around 19 months. Almost immediatly we noticed a difference. Up till this point they couldn’t hear very well and were only signing. They were beginning to say their first words. One day we noticed that Noah didn’t seem to be doing as well but We thought that it was because he was a boy. When we wnt for our post op we found out that his tubes were already clogged. We went through several treatments and both tubes had come out within 2 months. He was put on yet another round of antibiotics and we were supposed to wait 3 weeks to see if it had cleared up to put tubes back in, but in only 10 days he was in so much pain they put them back in only 2 weeks after the first set came out. 1 week after the second set we were back with a fever and drainage from his rights ear. We found out that it is a MRSA infection. We have completed a round of Bactrim but his fever has came back and there is more drainage and stuff coming out of his ear. I don;t know what else to do for him. and now Gracie his twin sister is starting the same thin. Her tubes are both coming out now and she has to be tested. I’m glad to hear that you daughters are better. It gives me hope that we can fight this and get a handle on it before it spreads. I just hope we can do something to end these painfull and sleepless nights.
Susan // Sep 21, 2007 at 10:27 am
I just found out about 30 minutes ago that my 5 year old daughter has mrsa. I’m picking up septra, she will be using ear drops and get medicine for her nose. I am now terrified for all of us and proud for her for being so brave during all the pain she has gone thru. She had to have ear tubes, touncils taken out and adnoids out about 3 months ago. There was pus type pocket befind her ear drum which was drained and I’m checking to see if it was cultured (I almost doubt it.).
Her ear began hurting but she did not complain untill after 3 days of going to school and finally she cried so hard after school about her ear pain and her brains hurting, I took her to her regular family doctor. He said her ear was so block with wax, he would treat it like an ear infection. After 8 days her ear was literally running with pus. I took her back to the doctor and he cultured it. MRSA. I just found this web-site, and I thank you for your information but am following up with these posts in a few hours with her.
I am scarred so bad - i have diareaha.
God bless all of you, be strong and thank you for this information.
warnisha // Dec 15, 2007 at 1:22 am
This site is so helpful!!! My almost 4 year old is going through the same thing and I am just at a loss as to what to do. I never realized how common it is for this to happen. I am scared and confused and just don’t know what to do for him. I want to rush him into the er and get him treated but considering the prevalance of the mrsa in hostpitals I just don’t want to expose him any more. My daughter who is 2 also had mrsa in her ear but one round of bactrim cleared her up. My poor son is currently fighting another ear infection, we are waiting for the culture to come back, and has a fever, as well as started vomiting just tonight. My husband and I are both teachers and I know my kids are exposed to so many germs that this could be a simple bug. Thank you for sharing your story.
angie // Jan 8, 2008 at 9:44 am
I am 30 years old and currently have MRSA in both of my ears. I have had tubes 4 times in my ears since I was 5 yrs. old. ear infections are a non stop issue with me. I have had heavy growth of pseudomonas aeruginosa with different strains on three or 4 different occasions in the last year. Has any one been told a reason for so many infections?
Cherisse // Feb 13, 2008 at 1:32 pm
My son has had an infection since Sept, he has ear tubes he has had drainage his ear drum burst with blood and fluid. He has been on bactrum, amox and augmentin and ear drop and still no change. Does this seem like MRSA?
angie- TO CHERISSE // Feb 14, 2008 at 1:31 pm
This does not mean it’s always MRSA . I have had ear infections since I was about 5 . with all types of different infections. You need to have your kids ear cultured. when he is having alot of drainage tell your Dr. you want that. If he has a certain infection like MRSA , Pseudomas, ect. u have to have the culture to find out what it is resistant to. not all antibotics work for every infection . If He has MRSA i can tell u some signs. The fluid coming out will be thick, yellow, It smells worse than just a regular infection and hurts worse. I kept really bad headaches. My ear drum has busted several times. No one has still got to the bottom of why I have them I have been to 3 specialist , so far. Make sure u keep the water out of his/her ears. And if he sleep with a fan on, or the widows down in a car , all that hurts me alot worse. Got any more questions e-mail me—- Hope i was helpful. sloneace@netzero.net
donna // Feb 18, 2008 at 6:40 pm
My granddaughter had tubes put in her ears in November and has had cronic bloody and pussy ear infections since. She is now on her 4th round of antibiotics due to the fact that it was never cultured till after the 3rd round Now she is on her 2nd round of Bactrim, Im praying it will work.Mydaughter is pregnant again and i worry about her also
Crystal // Mar 17, 2008 at 12:01 pm
My son who is 10 years old was diagnosed with MRSA this last week. On the Sunday before being diagnosed, he came in from playing and had 2 red bumbs on his back. They just kinda looked like flea bites. So after his bath that night I looked at them again and noticed that they had a small black dot in the center. The next morning he complained that they hurt BAD, and I noticed that the black dot was bigger and they were more infected looking. I called the pediatrician and he said it sounded like a poisonous spider bite and that they needed to be checked. So I took him in, to be told that it looked more like a staph infection and they took a sample. On Thursday we were informed that it was indeed MRSA. I have a second child who is not quite 2 years old. Who on Thursday was taken to the doctor being his ears were draining. He had tubes put in last August. The drainage was clear and sticky at first, but now in his left ear in blood tinged and crusty. His pediatrician put him on an antibiotic to cover MRSA just in case, but did not do a culture. Is this infection most likely MRSA and could it be that my older son may have gotten it from him?
deb // Apr 28, 2008 at 3:47 pm
my 15 year old contacted mrsa from school, his leg became infected. Due to being misdiagnosed for almost 1 week (much too long to let mrsa run rampant) his leg was filled with over a litre of fluid. he had emergency surgery after being transported, put on morphine and a host of other pain killers, none of which he has ever had. had a pic line put in his arm. twice,because the first one became infected. 1st time he had four weeks of iv clindo. 1 1/2 months later, it came back with a vengence. this time his femur had to be drilled and drained. now he has yet another pic line for six weeks. also his wound burst open and bled for two weeks. much money and lost time from work and school . he has been off the antibiotics for two weeks and just informed me that his leg hurts…..it’s baaaacckk.not to be negative,but i don’t see an end in site. only more skin tissue being taken and who knows what else. are there no answers?
Lori // Apr 29, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Deb, I am sorry to hear about your son. What part of the country are you from? I have been fighting MRSA for over 3 years now, but a different type of situation than your son. I feel so badly for your son…MRSA is very painful. He may need more antibiotics. Is he being seen by an Infectious Disease doctor? Don’t give up…keep fighting…
Lori
deb // Apr 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm
lori, we are from ny,upstate. travis,my son is seeing infectious disease,ortho and pediatrician. his blood work came back today with a c-pro reactive level of 50. i think the high is 5.0. his doctor said the white cell count was okay, so this means inflammation is present.( its only a matter of time i think.) thanks for your comment. deb
Terri // Apr 30, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Deb, I am a pediatric RN. My grandson has been fighting MRSA infection in both ears for over 2 months. Speaking as a healthcare professional, I would not take a child anywhere but to a PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALISTS, if you are not doing so already. I hope your son gets better soon…..Terri
Missy // May 14, 2008 at 10:37 am
I just found out (30 minutes ago) that my 2 year old has MRSA in his left ear. HELP!!???!! He has battled ear infections and is on his 2nd set of tubes. I fear my 5 year old will get it. The ENT’s office was aboslutely no help. I asked if I should take him out of day care…only to be told “well the doctor didn’t say so go ahead and take him”……I am literally sick to my stomach! Thank you for this article…it really gives me encouragement.
Leave a Comment