Keller Family Thankful For Daughter's Flu Recovery

[Shiloh]

Source: http://cbs11tv.com/local/Keller.Family.Thankful.2.1253841.html

Oct 16, 2009 6:56 pm US/Central
Keller Family Thankful For Daughter's Flu Recovery
Reporting
Joel Thomas
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―

A North Texas mom is thankful her daughter is still alive tonight after a nearly fatal bout with the H1N1 flu virus.

15-year old Jessica Samples felt flu symptoms coming on two weeks ago, but when she began losing circulation in her hands and feet doctors at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth realized the virus was affecting her heart, causing it to stop working properly.

Her mother was told she'd have to allow doctors to put her on a risky life support machine that would take over for Jessica's heart.

"I got on the phone to everyone I knew. I said she's in ICU; I'm not really sure what's wrong with her. Please pray for her" said Jessica's mom Andrea Samples.

A machine called ECMO would have to act as Jessica's heart, pumping and filtering her blood.

"She had H1N1 swine flu and predominantly an infection of the heart. And it decreased her heart function and made it difficult for her heart to pump blood out to her body" explains Dr. Linda Thompson.

Dr. Thompson says without ECMO they thought Jessica would have died. Andrea says it was a risk worth taking.

"So I had a 50/50 chance. I signed the paper and told the doctor I was putting her in his hands and that I was giving her to God and I left the room."

Jessica could only communicate through scribbled notes. "I was told that I woke up and wrote I don't like the machine but I really don't remember it."

After several days, the treatment worked and amazingly Jessica is up and going again.

Her mother says it is God's answer to her prayers. "He gave her back to me. He has great plans for her. I really truly believe that."

Jessica says it a good reminder to others that if you feel sick, do something about it. "If you're scared of a vaccine or anything, that's not worth it. Just tell your parents if you don't feel good, or a trusted adult."

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Keller Family Thankful For Daughter's Flu Recovery

By DIANE SMITH
Posted Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
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FORT WORTH ?

Andrea Samples knew that her daughter?s flu wasn?t typical when the 15-year-old?s hands and feet went numb.

Jessica Samples? flu started Sept. 26 with a backache. As it grew worse, the Timber Creek High School sophomore had labored breathing and became restless. Eventually, after being seen twice by doctors at a clinic and emergency room in Northeast Tarrant County, she was admitted to Cook Children?s Medical Center.

She had the H1N1 virus ? swine flu ? and relatives worried that she wouldn?t survive.

As a last resort, doctors put her on a machine that oxygenated her blood.
Now, 16 days after entering the hospital, she is recovering and is expected to be released Sunday.

"We are so happy with how Jessica is doing," said Dr. Linda Thompson, who specializes in pediatric critical-care medicine. "I wouldn?t even recognize her. She was very sick when she came in. She had H1N1 swine flu and seemed to have an infection of the heart."

Fluid had collected around Jessica?s heart, Thompson said. She had no pulse in her arms and legs and had poor blood flow. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine let Jessica?s to rest so her body could fight the illness.

"Without the ECMO, our thought is that she would have died," Thompson said.

Jessica emerged from her hospital room Friday with a big grin. During a short news conference, she described how she is recovering from the illness and hopes to return to classes soon at Timber Creek High, a new school in the Keller district in north Fort Worth.

"I don?t remember anything at all," Jessica said. "I?ve been told I woke up and wrote things like, 'I want Starbucks.? " (She finally got a vanilla bean frappuccino, minus the caffeine.)

Jessica?s mother said she was struck three separate times with a deep fear that her daughter would die ? each time she was signing papers for medical procedures.

"I was in terror," Samples said. "I didn?t know what to do. I didn?t know what would happen.

"I really, truly believe she is alive today because of the power of prayer," Samples said.

Jessica, who is on the Timber Creek swim team, was healthy with no underlying medical conditions when she caught the virus. She was planning to compete in several events this season.

She is taking recovery one step at a time. She may be able to swim soon, but not compete, she said.
Jessica wants other teens to know that being treated for the illness hurts, so they need to get the swine flu vaccine.

"If you are scared of a vaccine ? that?s not worth it," she said, adding that teens who feel sick need to tell their parents right away.

Timber Creek has had many flu-related absences, though no exact figures were available. Students with the flu tend to miss several days.

"It knocks them out for week," said James Johnson, assistant principal.

The school is constantly reminding students about washing their hands and staying healthy. Teachers have Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer in their classrooms.

Johnson said the school is ready to welcome Jessica back.
"We are so excited and ready to get her back in class," Johnson said. "She has such a contagious smile. She is a wonderful girl. We want her back."


http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1692351.html