Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

Last weekend, we had quite an adventure.  After recovering from an upper-respiratory infection, Ellis contracted HSP, which is an unusual autoimmune response.  It causes a red rash and swelling in the joints that was so painful, Ellis couldn't walk or stand.  The rash started first.  I had the same thing earlier in the week and it cleared in no time, so I paid little attention.  Then she complained of stiffness and the later her knee swelled up.  While we were in the ER waiting room, her foot started to swell too. (Kathy figured it out based on my description before we ever saw a doctor.)

 

Here she is getting an IV before we were admitted at Children's Hospital.  The woman on the left was letting Ellis play a game on her iPad to help distract her.  It worked pretty well. As long as she was laying down, she didn't complain much and the swelling didn't get worse.

But the physical therapist said we needed to get moving to push the fluid causing the swelling to move out of her joints.  So first, she got up and stood for 5 seconds then rested.  This was repeated a bunch of times, and pretty soon she was walking.

 

The therapist considered sending us home with a walker, but Ellis did so well so quickly, it was not necessary.  Still, Ellis found it to be lots of fun to play with.  Here we are in the play room.

Here is our wonderful physical therapist, Brittany.

The hospital has life specialists (or some such thing) who help explain what is going on to the kids and finds activities for them. 

 

The activities, physical therapist and a trip to the cafeteria (not to mention the total lack of sleep the night before) wiped her out.

Ellis was very brave through the whole thing and is recovering well.  It is going to be up and down for the next 4-6 weeks, but all should be fine.  HSP can be more serious in some cases, if it attacks the intestines of kidneys; but that does not appear to be the case here.