Sabrina's Story

Sabrina McNeil, Dylan McNeil Foundation, Oregon, USA

On May 14, 2007, a beautiful blonde, blue eyed little boy named Dylan Robert McNeil was born into this world. His smile and love for life was contagious. He was a blessing to so many lives, in many different ways. Dylan loved life, and always had a big smile stretched across his face.

On May 7, 2009, Dylan started not feeling well, his temperature up to 103.8^oF (39.89^oC). I called the on-call service as we were getting worried about his breathing. They told us as long as his temperature was under 105 and he wasn’t lethargic and still having wet diapers, respiratory rate around 30 per minute, to just watch him, and call if he gets worse. We were able to manage his breathing with his usual asthma medications, and put him in bed with us. This was his first time sleeping with us in our bed at home.

Dylan started vomiting early Friday morning, but his temperature was down. The doctor’s office had us come in at 10 am, knowing Dylan and his history with pneumonia. He seemed as if he was getting lethargic, life-less, tired, etc. but he was able to keep down 2 popsicles. Blood work came back that there was some sort of bacterial infection somewhere. The decision was made to admit him to the paediatric unit at our local hospital, to do IV fluids, antibiotics, and to test for a urinary infection. Usually he fights the IV and it takes a couple of us to hold him down. Not this time.

Shortly after returning to his hospital room, Dylan fell asleep. As we waited for the test results, Dylan began to seizure. I got into a wheel chair with Dylan in my arms, and was wheeled down to get a CT scan. He was still seizing.

Upon returning, the doctors informed us they want to do a spinal tap to check for meningitis. As the doctor was reporting to us that all went well, Dylan stopped breathing, and his heart rate dropped. They placed Dylan on a ventilator, and inform us that he needs to be flown to the Children’s Hospital.

Upon arriving, Dylan was rushed to the paediatric intensive care unit. A team of doctors and nurses swarm around him, as I watch. After doing all they can, the doctor sat with me and informed me that Dylan has suffered severe brain trauma, there is nothing more they can do.

We spent many days by Dylan’s bedside, researching, hoping, praying, and begging for a medical miracle. Dylan never again was conscious after he began to seizure. We watched our son silently leave us as we stared at the ventilator monitor. Even with all the advanced medicine and procedures, Dylan’s brain slowly progressed to brain death and herniated. Dylan was removed from life support and died in my arms.

On May 13, 2009, one day shy of his second birthday, our worst fear became a reality. Dylan Robert McNeil left this world because of a horrific bacteria called Streptococcus Pnuemoniae or Pneumococcal Meningitis.

We are determined to continue the fight against meningitis so no other child will have to suffer and no other parent will have to endure the pain of losing a child from this devastating illness.