Kaleigh might not be home for the holidays after all
Home might be a little too far away after all for the 9-year-old Sick Kids patient who was set to spend Christmas with her family in Nova Scotia for the first time in years.
On Thursday, just days after getting the green light to head east for the holidays, Kaleigh Wright-Barton came down with a fever and wound up in emergency at the downtown Hospital for Sick Children, where she’s been a patient nearly all her young life.
Kaleigh was born with gastroschisis, with part of her intestines defective and protruding from her body, and her parents moved to Toronto for treatment when she was just 4 months old. She has since had several surgeries on her intestines and undergone two liver transplants, most recently 18 months ago.
Kaleigh’s mom, Echo Wright, told the Star that doctors now say her daughter has a blood infection and might need to take antibiotics at the hospital for up to two weeks. Final test results are expected Saturday, meaning the family will miss their morning flight to Halifax at the very least, Wright said.
“We felt like we were on top of the world,” said Wright, 27, describing their joy at being featured in the Star earlier this week.
“And then, minutes later, we’re sitting in emergency. It’s definitely a shock to the system. We’re sitting pretty low right now. Our emotions are all over the place.”
Kaleigh herself isn’t daunted, though. “Great!” she said playfully when asked how she’s feeling. The little girl said she’s still hopeful that she can make it home for Christmas, and is looking forward to “seeing my family — and presents.”
“She’s the most positive one out of all of us,” said Wright, 27, who was at the hospital with Kaleigh and her dad, 30-year-old Jewell Barton.
“We get our strength from her: a 9-year-old. If a 9-year-old can be this positive, this strong, why can’t we as adults?”
The young family moved to Toronto in July 2005 but never expected to be here this long, said Wright, who hails from Weymouth, N.S.
Because Kaleigh’s digestive system lacks portions of her intestines, she has to take a special, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) IV to get the sustenance she needs. But over time, using the IV nutrition takes a toll on the liver, which is why she has needed two transplants, Wright said.
As for the blood infection, Wright said they’ve been through this before, too. The IV that connects to Kaleigh’s neck can sometimes get contaminated and cause complications, she said.
“She’s had many, many blood infections,” said Wright. “More than I can count.”
Wright said her daughter has been allowed to take antibiotics at home twice before. So there’s hope that they’ll get to Weymouth in time for Christmas. The last time the whole extended family was together in the Maritimes for the holiday was 2011, says Wright.
“(Saturday) afternoon we’ll know exactly what kind of bug is in her blood,” she said. “We’re being hopeful. It’s hard.”
If they do make it home, they will be greeted by a lobster feast in Weymouth, followed by New Year’s festivities in Barton’s hometown of Digby.
“Just to be with family,” Wright said of her deep wish to take Kaleigh home for the holiday.
“We always say that Christmas isn’t about what’s under the tree, but who’s around it.”
