4-year-old Fallon girl battling severe infection
CHRISTY LATTIN, clattin@lahontanvalleynews.com
July 1, 2006
While many are grilling burgers and having fun this holiday weekend, one Fallon family is maintaining a vigil by their little girl's hospital bed in Oakland, hoping and praying she'll overcome an E. coli infection.
Four-year old Lanie Hope Smith of Fallon, daughter of Ken Smith of Reno and Melanie Smith of Fallon, fell ill last weekend and was admitted into Banner Churchill Community Hospital on Sunday, said her great-aunt Marie Nygren. Test were run but the cause of her stomach cramps were unknown.
Nygren said Lanie's kidneys began failing and she was transferred to Washoe Medical Center, where it was determined she had the E. coli infection. According to the WebMD Web site, E. coli is a bacterium with hundreds of strains that can live harmlessly in the digestive tracts. Some strains produce a toxin that can lead to kidney failure.
While at Washoe Med, Lanie's kidneys began shutting down and her blood cell counts became dangerously abnormal, said her grandfather, Jack McKay.
The Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, Calif., was alerted and sent a plane to Reno for Lanie. Lanie flew to Oakland where she was admitted on Wednesday. Nygren said Lanie had surgery to insert two shunts for kidney dialysis.
Kathy Smith of Reno, Lanie's grandmother, said she was in stable condition around noon on Friday and that her son hasn't moved from her side.
"They're bonded, Daddy and daughter," she said. "He's very involved, they're very close. There's a heavy duty bond there."
Smith said because Lanie's kidneys are compromised, excess fluid is building in her system and she now has fluid in her lungs. The little girl is hooked up to continuous dialysis and oxygen.
Smith said the first sign of happiness was when Lanie woke briefly and asked her dad why she was in the hospital and were they up in the air together.
"This has really affected all of us. We're used to her being active and excited about life. She hasn't said much since she got sick," said Smith.
McKay said Lanie was sedated at Banner Hospital and Washoe Med because of the stomach pains.
Smith said Lanie performed in her first ballet recital earlier this month and was very excited.
"She put her hands around her mouth and told her mom to 'Find my Daddy.' He was there filming but she just couldn't see him," she said.
McKay said his step-daughter Melanie has been tough through the ordeal but had a few breakdowns as the bad news continued.
Smith said Lanie could be hospitalized in Oakland from three weeks to two months. She's sent prayers to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and to a global radio prayer ministry.
McKay said Lanie's been going downhill for the past few days, but Washoe Med told them her health would deteriorate before improving.
"She's very, very sick," he said.
Nygren has established a fund at Colonial Bank to help pay for family expenses related to Lanie's illness and McKay said he will collect funds at his business, Jack's Place on Center Street.
