Ethan Deane is back to being a normal 3-year-old boy because of the help of medical student Ted Handler, who help him fight off a deadly infection.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Little Ethan Deane started his new year fighting off a life-threatening blood infection.
But on Friday, the now healthy 3-year-old was able to thank the nurse and medical student who fought with him.
"My jaw dropped when I saw him running around," said third-year Tufts University medical student Ted Handler, who cared for Ethan at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
"I still worried about him after he left. He was exhausted. To see him playing with his brother and smiling was the ultimate reward."
A strain of the streptococcus bacteria — the same that causes strep throat — had somehow gotten into Ethan's bloodstream, which is a rare but potentially deadly situation.
The infection can lead to sepsis and organ failure. Only about 10,000 cases are reported nationally and it leads to more than 1,000 deaths annually.
"He was a pretty complicated case," Handler said during a phone interview. "It was an atypical presentation of the illness and he was tough to figure out."
Handler first met Ethan in early January when he started his rounds. The 3-year-old was dehydrated and his kidneys were starting to fail. He refused to eat and was losing weight. He had a rash and sores that were getting worse. His temperature remained in the triple digits. He was on the brink of needing admission to the intensive care unit.
"He had a rash and his fever was 103. He hurt and hurt," Ethan's mother, Angela Gajda, said. "There was a huge sore in his mouth and his lips were bleeding."
The symptoms had started a few days before, on a Friday, after Gajda herself had gotten over a case of strep throat. Ethan woke with a fever but but the swabs for strep came back negative.
Over the weekend, they returned to Berkshire Medical Center's emergency room because things had gotten worse and his heart rate was high. Doctors ultimately sent him to Baystate that Monday and, shortly after, the testing discovered what was wrong.
For a total of 13 days, doctors pumped antibiotics and nutrients into him through a peripherally inserted central catheter. Handler and pediatric nurse Shakema Ali spent hours in the room with the young boy every day, celebrating every little success.
"He had to have a blood transfusion because his iron levels were so low," Gajda said.
After more than a week of antibiotics, Ethan finally ate on his own. A few days later, Ali and Handler sent him home with one final recommendation — to play with his brother. The two had been not only there to deliver medicine but to comfort him throughout the 24-hour treatment cycles.
Ethan doodled on a piece of paper that last day and gave it to Handler hours before he left the Springfield hospital. Not only was Ethan a complicated and severe case, he was also one of Handler's first patients.
"I'll save [the doodle] for the rest of my career," Handler said.
Gajda said it isn't known how the bacteria got into Ethan's bloodstream and she may never know. Doctors believe the bacteria may have entered through an open sore in his mouth.
Ethan and his family returned to Baystate this past Friday, but not because he was sick. The family had gone there to thank Ali and Handler for their efforts in helping to save Ethan's life.
"It was so nice. Ethan remembered them instantly," his mother said. "It was nice to see them on good terms."
Handler said medical professionals don't often get to see results of their efforts: Patients who return healthy and with thanks.
"It was impactful for me. It isn't very often we get to see our patients healthy. To know that what I did for them made a difference was tremendous," he said.
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Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation.
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School.
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks.
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan.
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about.
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said.
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom.
Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
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The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
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A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. click for more
Amy Schirmer was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for creating a weekly therapeutic art class at the George B. Crane Center to help those in recovery from substance use. click for more