Fair / 5° F
Brynn Duncan’s condition worsens, surgery needed
Published 12:00pm Wednesday, September 10, 2008Brynn Duncan has endured more at the age of seven than most will survive in an entire lifetime.
In a story published in the September 4 edition of The Daily Journal, it was reported that Brynn, a Moorhead native, had sustained injuries including a damaged kidney, a severed intestine, a bruised heart and a torn spinal cord resulting from an August 18 accident on the corner of Union and Fir Avenues in Fergus Falls.
On September 4, things looked to be on the upside for Brynn, who, although not having gone through all of her surgeries, was said to be in the recovering stages at the Hennepin County Medical Center in the Twin Cities.
Shortly thereafter, Brynn’s condition suddenly took a turn in a very serious direction.
On September 6, Brynn’s temperature reached 101 degrees and frequent vomiting began to threaten her level of nourishment, prompting alarm among family members and medical staff. By the evening, Brynn’s fever had reached 103 degrees and the vomiting failed to cease.
Brynn was given Ibuprofen for the fever, which temporarily led to a decrease in her temperature to 100.6 on September 7. Cultures were taken to determine the source of infection — the cause of the fever.
Although her fever soon raised to 102, it was determined that a fungal blood infection from the catheter was to blame — a relief for the family to have pin pointed the source.
An anti-fungal medication was administered to Brynn, but the family was warned that the infection did have the potential to spread to the heart and the eyes.
On September 8, Brynn’s fever reached 103 and her heart rate began to elevate. Her fever then spiked to nearly 105 and her heart rate hit 185.
Brynn’s medication was changed and her pic line was removed, as the medical team was concerned that it could be another possible source of infection.
A decision was then made to perform surgery on Brynn in the afternoon, in which her kidney and ureter tube would either be repaired or removed. While mentally preparing for surgery, the family was informed that a blood thinner given to Brynn earlier be harmful to the surgical procedure if done within 12 hours. And so they waited.
On the evening of September 8, Brynn’s temperature remained high as her infection was still present. The family was also informed that Brynn was suffering, on top of everything else, with pneumonia in both lungs.
By the very early morning of September 9, Brynn’s fever had gone down to 99 and her heart rate had decreased to 128. Brynn was taken to Surgery around 7:45 a.m., while her family members, who had driven from around the area, waited and prayed for their little gal.
While in surgery, Brynn’s kidney, appendix and gallbladder were removed. Although she lost three liters of blood, the doctors said Brynn had done well, pointing out that her tissues were very healthy. The only issue that stood in the family’s way was the possibility that swelling caused from blood loss could mean the doctors may have to open her abdomen if fluid results in her inability to breathe with ease.
Again, the family waits and prays that Brynn will make it through.
