March 2011

March was supposed to be a month filled with spring break fun and birthday celebrations. It turned out to be the hardest, most emotionally trying month we've had since becoming parents. The thought of losing a child is unfathomable, yet Christian and I were faced with the fact that Kai had developed a life-threatening condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which resulted from an E. coli infection. The first few days in the hospital were filled with uncertainty. There wasn't a "cure" for his condition, and the doctors couldn't even give us a prognosis of any kind. The treatment for HUS is supportive care, which means a lot of watching and waiting. So we watched, and we waited, and we hoped for the best outcome. Family and friends hoped and prayed, too, giving us the emotional support we so desperately needed.

Thankfully, Kai was released from the hospital after 10 days. He's not completely back to normal, but he's doing much better. It takes time to recuperate from such a traumatic ordeal, but I'm confident that Kai will make a complete recovery. April is a new month, and I believe good things will come from it.

We want to thank all of the people who gave us support during this difficult time - family, friends, and even complete strangers who were dealing with their own hardships. And of course we want to thank the doctors, nurses, and other members of the hospital staff whose expert knowledge and caring touch were instrumental in leading Kai on the path to recovery.

We love you all.