My Daughter's Fight Against Severe Pneumonia: A Story of Resilience
This is the story of my two-month-old daughter's harrowing battle with severe pneumonia. It was a terrifying ordeal, but thanks to the dedicated medical professionals and her own incredible strength, she is now thriving.
December 5, 2024: My daughter developed a mild cold with a runny nose. I wanted to take her to her pediatrician at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) immediately, but her appointment wasn't until Monday.
December 9, 2024: During her scheduled check-up at PGH, her lungs were clear, and she was prescribed Disudrin for her cold.
December 10, 2024: A day later, she developed a cough, initially mild.
December 11, 2024: By 8:00 AM, her condition worsened, prompting me to rush her to Bicutan Medical Center. An X-ray was performed, and she was prescribed Cefuroxime.
December 12, 2024: The X-ray revealed bilateral pneumonia. Seeking a second opinion, we consulted a doctor at ParaƱaque Doctorās Hospital. To our relief, she dismissed the diagnosis, stating the lung sounds were inconsistent and that Cefuroxime was inappropriate for her age.
December 13, 2024: I briefly left her in the care of a family friend while attending a function. By 8:26 PM, she became lethargic and unusually fussy.
December 14, 2024: At 1:00 AM, deeply concerned, I contacted her pediatrician at Bicutan Medical Center, sending a video of her breathing. She advised immediate admission. We rushed to BMC, but due to financial constraints, we had to return home. At 7:30 AM, we tried Taguig-Pateros District Hospitalās ER, but they were at full capacity and referred us to Rizal Medical Center (RMC). RMC also couldn't admit her, stating her breathing appeared normal.
December 15, 2024: Her breathing worsened again. At 8:00 AM, we took her to Taguig Doctorās Hospital, where she received nebulization and a recommendation to seek care at a larger hospital. We immediately went to PGH. She was given oxygen and, due to overcrowding in the ER, shared a bed with another child with pneumonia. This was also the day my other daughter arrived from the province for the holidays.
December 17, 2024: We were discharged from PGH with home medications, her vital signs stable.
December 18, 2024: On her original due date (she was born prematurely on November 4th), we continued her home nebulization and antibiotics. She ate a little but became lethargic again, with wheezing. By 8:30 PM, her condition deteriorated rapidly: mouth breathing, severe difficulty breathing, and pale skin. We rushed her back to the hospital.
The Critical Stage and Recovery:
At the hospital, she required resuscitation in the ER. She had stopped breathing and turned blue. She was diagnosed with severe pneumonia. The initial antibiotics were ineffective and had to be changed. The following days were critical as we watched her fight for her life. Finally, she began to improve, feeding normally and breathing more easily.
Today, my daughter is healthy and thriving, a testament to her incredible resilience. I share this story to emphasize the seriousness of pneumonia, especially in infants. Seek immediate medical attention for any concerning symptoms. This experience also highlights the importance of protecting newborns from illness. If you are sick, please avoid contact with infants, as they are extremely vulnerable to infections.
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