In Memoriam (all parents please read post #21!!!)

Sincere condolences to you and your family, may your little boy rest in peace.  :sad:  :sad:  :sad:  :sad:  :sad:
 
Thank you all so much for your kind words, prayers and condolences. My wife and I appreciate them greatly.
To elaborate on the cause of his illness and the ultimate loss of his life:
Yoshi died of a heart attack that was the culmination of a condition known as Kawasaki Disease which mainly effects children under 5.
I strongly advise all parents with young children to research this particular disease. Please take careful note of the symptoms and look for them in your child if ever they become ill in a similar manner as did my son. It can be difficult to diagnose especially when doctors who are unfamiliar, or not vigilant enough, assume that every childhood illness is simply a viral or bacterial infection and rely only on indicators for infection to attempt diagnosis.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened in Yoshi's case. It started out with a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, progressing to a body rash, severely dry cracked and bleeding lips, a red swollen tongue, oedema in the hands and feet, conjunctivitis and redness of the eyes, skin peeling from his fingertips and finally aneurysm of the coronary arteries which lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack). The doctors who treated him persisted with antibiotic treatment for infection despite the fact that not one single test revealed an infectious organism of any kind. The tests carried out were blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, mucus tests and spinal fluid tests. MRI scans and an X-ray were carried out also. Kawasaki Disease was considered by doctors in Yoshi's case but it was dismissed out of hand by a so-called "specialist" as being "very unlikely", even though he exhibited many of the key symptoms and had an ethnic susceptibility (Kawasaki Disease is most prevalent in Japanese, Yoshi's mother is Japanese). The main doctor who handled his case was of the opinion that not enough symptoms were prevalent to diagnose Kawasaki Disease despite no alternate diagnosis being possible. He wasn't personally seen by any kind of specialist during his hospitalisation. He was discharged after 7 days even though he clearly hadn't fully recovered and there being no diagnosis at all.
Yoshi was back in hospital after only 24 hours with his high fever having returned. Upon arriving at the emergency department a doctor stated that her first impression was that Yoshi was suffering from Kawasaki. This was conveyed to the Paediatric doctors but again dismissed. Antibiotic treatment for an infection was started again even though no infection had been identified. After a day or two Yoshi seemed to be getting a little better, and so the doctors assumed that they were finally getting the results they were looking for. He was taken off I/V antibiotics and started on oral. He seemed lethargic and still unhappy at times and seemed to be in some pain at times. After six days he was discharged and prescribed more antibiotics to be given orally. His condition had still not been diagnosed.
He was at home for three days and seemed ok but still not really his normal self. He would stare at his mother and cling when held. We did as advised by doctors and administered the antibiotics. He was due to go in for a new blood test on the Thursday. Yoshi went to sleep on Tuesday evening and never woke up. He sleeps in a little bed right next to our own and usually he would wake mum around every three hours for a feed with his cries. My wife woke with a start around 2.30am and realised immediately that an unusually long time had elapsed since he had been awake. Her sudden start also woke me.
She immediately cried out to me when she felt for Yoshi and found his body already cold. One look at him told the story. Yoshi was dead and it was too late to save him. The ambulance was called immediately and arrived within ten minutes but they quickly realised that nothing could be done and informed us. Yoshi had been dead for some hours already.
At the time we had no idea what had killed our son as there was still no diagnosis made of his condition. He was taken to hospital again and transferred to the coroner for autopsy.
The next day the coroner called to tell us it had been a heart attack that had killed him and that there was extensive scarring of the heart tissues and arteries of the heart. Kawasaki Disease was confirmed by the coroner.
This was the first time that we had a solid diagnosis above anything other than suspicion or assumption of what was wrong with our son. Upon researching the condition further, I have discovered that if treated in a timely manner there is only 1 chance in 10000 that the patient will die. Left untreated it is more like 1 in 50. To make things worse, the treatment is a simple large intravenous dose of immunoglobulin, a substance that occurs naturally in human blood and has no known side effects or associated risk. The patient usually recovers almost fully within 24 hours.
If the correct investigation and follow ups had been carried out and more care to be thorough was given, the correct diagnosis could have been made and it would be highly likely that my son would still be with us today.
There are many more details to this story but it would take pages to tell it in full so I have tried to be concise.
To all parents: please be aware of this disease and research it. Information is readily available online. You will easily find the key symptoms and signs to look for and if you suspect this condition in your child then demand that they investigate it or find another doctor who will. I placed my whole trust and belief in the doctors who were treating Yoshi and believed that they knew best and were doing what was right for him. However their failure has cost my son his life and our family their first son. My faith in doctors and medical practice in general has been wholly shattered by what has occurred.
Thank you for reading this post.
 
My deepest condolences to your family.  If at least one child can be saved through your post of information, then know that his passing meant something even greater in this material  world.
 
My friend, there is nothing I can say or do to ease the pain you are feeling.  This post has brought me to tears.... the thought of losing a child is unbearable to me, I cannot imagine the emotions you and yours are going through.  Yoshi will be in our prayers for sure. 


Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
this is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago
Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you -
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while going home --
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain -
wind and water -
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower -
Wind and rain -
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone
and a short time to be there
 
im so sorry, this is sad.

i am aware of kawasalis disease, i had a friend in the military who had it as an infant, they were lucky to find a doctor that spotted it.

it must be hard to deal with the fact that this was preventable. i understand that it is rare but the lack of complications from treatment make it a no brainer to me, i have been frustrated with doctors my whole life, but i haven't lost anyone to there neglect or stupid policies so i wont share my frustrating experiences. im just gonna stop there. ill say a prayer for him.
 
May God give you strength and in time let your heart find peace

My prayers are with you and your family
 
Words do not suffice...all condolences and sorrow. We are all diminished.
 
I don't really know what to say, mate... this is really horrible... Lord know how much I hate the doctors by their "I'm god" attitude... That is too much pain for a single family... :sad:
 
I am so sorry for your loss. Life is precious and every day is a gift. My sincere condolences.
 
Thankyou from my wife and I to all forum members and guests who have posted in or read this thread and for all your thoughts and prayers. I hope that the awareness of all childhood illness and mortality has been hightened by this sad event. To all parents, please go give your kids a hug and tell them that you love them right now. I sure wish I could do the same.

 
I do know about this disease. as my friend almost lost a daughter to it.

I'm not really able to convey how sad I feel for you.I feel like the only way to try and show I care is share some songs that helped me.

though I think that Clapton one is far more beautiful than anything I'll post.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPEDfCwJXew[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cuybrKPmU[/youtube]

The poem in the latter song, I first heard it as a child at a Funeral for a child my mother took care of. its always stuck with me.

A Child Of Mine by Edgar Guest

I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said.
For you to love the while he lives,
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief.
You'll have his lovely memories,
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over,
In search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take him home again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, Thy will be done!'
For all the joys Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.


I really Hope I Don't seem arrogant in posting this stuff. as I've never been in your shoes.
I just hope some of this might in some small way help.


 
I am very sensitive to any topic of children. And I am very sorry for this disaster. What I can recommend you and your wife? In a difficult situation, we, Muslims say, and wish - "sabr" - patience. As a parent I can only say thanks for the post of 21. There is some symbolism, I just recalled a good movie - 21 grams.
 
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