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Jan 27, 2006 6:30 pm US/Central
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Child Survives Life-Threatening Bout With Superbug
Recovery Won't Be Easy
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
It's an amazing survival story. Last October, doctors didn't hold out much hope for 8-year-old Jewaun Smith.
"There were three or four distinct times when I went home at night and thought that I wouldn't see him here in the morning," said Dr. Robert Daum, who works in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Chicago.
As CBS 2 Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports, the superbug, known as MRSA, had attacked Jewaun's body, damaging his kidneys, liver and lungs.
"At one point he had more than 500 holes in his lungs," Daum said. "I couldn't believe my eyes."
Doctors used a combination of treatments, including oxygen therapy tubes, to drain excess air out of his chest and new medications to battle the bacteria.
After 2.5 months in a medically-induced coma, Jewaun woke up, asking for chicken wings and a shake.
"Just like overnight, things started looking better," said Jewaun's mother, Kansonia Love.
Jewaun survived the superbug but has a tough road ahead of him.
"They're teaching him how to walk again, how to talk good, how to move and work his muscles in his body to build up his strength," Kansonia said.
Brushing his teeth on his own and putting on socks are big steps.
Jewaun's brain appears to be healthy and doctors are optimistic his muscles will mend and he'll be able to breathe without extra oxygen.
"We don't have hardly anyone survive what he had, so we don't really know how far we can go. We're aiming for complete," Daum said.
"My faith stood that strong, and I believe that things will work out," Kansonia said. "When he started making that turnaround it was just a wonderful thing to see, to see that my son was still going to be here with me."
Jewaun will celebrate his ninth birthday on Monday. His family has a big party planned.
Dr. Daum says he sees at least one child a day with MRSA at the University of Chicago. Most cases are milder than Jewaun's.
The government is coming out soon with new recommendations for doctors on how to spot superbug infections and treat them and for people on how to avoid infections.
The bottom line for most is to practice good hygiene. That means washing your hands with soap and water.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)