Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2020

KH . ORG 17 hospital. Something wasn’t right.” The emergency department staff worked diligently to help stabilize Nevaeh’s breathing, but nothing they tried seemed to work. Nevaeh’s chest x-ray showed mucus lining her lungs, preventing her body from absorbing oxygen. She was admitted to Kootenai Health’s pediatric unit for treatment and observation. “Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in young children and infants,” Vanessa Carroll-Ohmes, M.D., medical director of Kootenai Health pediatric services, said. “It is often caused by a virus. This infection leads to inflammation and congestion in the bronchioles. The mucus that builds up in these tiny airways makes it hard for children to breathe. Unfortunately, there is no ‘magic bullet’ to make the infection go away. The treatment is supportive, which means that if there is mucus, we suction; if there are low oxygen saturations, then we give oxygen; and if the baby or child does not want to drink or is breathing too hard to drink safely, then we give IV fluids.” “They treated us like family,” Latesha said, tearing up as she recalled Nevaeh’s bond with her caregivers. “Her main nurse was like a second mom to her. She’d cradle her up and sing to her, rock her back and forth, like it was her second nature. She genuinely took care of us.” ‘They savedher’ Day by day, Nevaeh’s oxygen levels improved, as did her hydration and overall mood. She began to giggle again and want solid food, and she became good buddies with the staff members who checked on her daily. This included her respiratory therapist, who wasn’t her favorite person initially. “The RT guy was so great with her, but because he was the one who had to mess with her oxygen tubes, she was afraid of him at first,” Latesha said. “By the time he was able to take her tubes out, she gave him the biggest hug, and he started to tear up. He said, ‘This is why I do this.’ We really felt the love. We weren’t just patients to them. We came in at our weakest point and they did everything for us—they saved her.” Nevaeh is now home with her parents and siblings. She’s playing, coloring, eating snacks and running around like a toddler should. She’s happy and healthy. “It’s weird to look back and think of this as a good experience,” Latesha said. “But it was. We’ve never had a hospital experience like that. I will be forever grateful to them.” Latesha Everard and her daughter, Nevaeh, outside their home in Coeur d’Alene Shallane Bailey, RT, caring for Nevaeh Sarai Salmonsen, RN, walks with a recovering Nevaeh.