Washington parents ask: what can be learned from our child’s E. coli death?

Posted: April 25th, 2010 - 7:57pm by Doug Powell

I’m going to the doctor’s for my annual check-up on Tuesday. I know I don’t exercise enough anymore, so I have high blood pressure; I’m old; I’m tired; having babies at 47 doesn’t keep one young, it keeps one old and tired. I’ve got other issues, like some form of motion sickness that makes me barf, but we won’t get into that. And I’m not sure there’s much the doctor can tell me. My problems are trivial.

The Oregonian reports that Bonnie Wilson took her sick 4-year-old, Ronan (right) , to the pediatrician on Monday, March 29. She says she told the doctor that another child in Ronan's day care had been hospitalized with the potentially deadly bacteria E. coli O157:H7. But Ronan's symptoms didn't fit that diagnosis.
The doctor suspected the sandy-haired, hazel-eyed boy had the flu and sent Wilson home with instructions to keep a close eye on him.

Guess Bonnie was supposed to use those magic goggles that let her see bacteria.

Ronan improved briefly, but that Thursday he was back at Evergreen Pediatric Clinic in Vancouver, dehydrated, constipated and so weak he needed help sitting up. The clinic sent him to Southwest Washington Medical Center for tests, and just as he arrived, his symptoms took a horrifying turn -- one that, in the end, changed the lives of everyone who knew Ronan Allen "Ro-Ro" Wilson.

On Saturday, a week after their boy's funeral, Bonnie and Anthony Wilson told their story. They want others to know the loving, curious, ambitious child they lost and to learn from their experience. They don't want another family to ever endure what they did.

The story goes on to say that a thousand questions remain, including: How did the E. coli outbreak start? Should doctors and public-health officials have done anything differently when children became ill? Will they do anything differently in the future? ...

The Wilsons hope that sharing their story will raise awareness about E. coli. They hope doctors and public-health officials will always act swiftly to inform the public about outbreaks. And they wonder whether Ronan might be alive if he'd been diagnosed sooner.
 

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Categories: E. coli
Tags: Day Care, e. coli, ronan wilson, Vancouver, Washington

Comments

Sharon Mills says:

This is such a sad story and seems to be so simular to the tragic events that led to my son Mason's death from E.coli 0157 back in 2005. Doctors and Public Health Officials do not know enough about this deadly bacterium and hopefully with constant pressure from ourselves - The families of the Victims, together we can all raise the profile and make the necessary people more aware. Mason, like Ronan was sent home after a visit to see his G.P. Mason at this point was very weak, losing so much blood that he had to wear a nappy (he was 5yrs of age)and had a terrible smell which to this day, I still cannot describe comming from his pores.Mason had also been diagnosed at this point with E.coli 0157 but I to was supposed to use them magic goggles and keep an eye on him. A few hours later Mason had deteriorated, Mason was in acute renal failure. Over a week later, he passed away. The Hospital that cared for Mason during his last few days were fantastic and In my eyes did everything they possibly could but I do believe that the first Doctor that seen Mason did not act quick enough. I don't think he could have saved him but what I do think is that if he had sent him into Hospital sooner then Mason could have been put on to a saline drip and been spared a lot of the pain that he had to endure. They say there is no treatment for the bacterium, that all they can do is aid the body whilst the bacterium takes it's course. I was told that Mason would get worse, I didn't think that was possible for he was already very poorly but he did and as a parent it is your worst nightmare. Sadly the nightmare never ends. It's been 4yrs now since Mason died and I still miss him like crazy. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Posted on April 28th, 2010 - 6:15pm

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