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Respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, is a common respiratory virus that impacts the lungs and breathing pathways. The virus can be dangerous for infants and young children and is also concerning for older adults. While most older kids and adults only experience cold-like systems and recover in a week or two, an estimated 58,000-80,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to RSV each year, and in 2022 healthcare organizations across the country are experiencing higher infection rates than in years past.  "We are experiencing a strong RSV season and do not expect it to go away anytime soon," said Dr. Kris Wilson, Division Chief of Renown Children's Primary Care. "Infants who are infected with RSV almost always show symptoms of runny noses and cough. Call your healthcare provider immediately if your child is having difficulty breathing, is not drinking enough fluids, or is experiencing any worsening of these symptoms.” Symptoms of RSV: Runny nose  Decrease in appetite/inability to drink Dry diapers, an indication of dehydration  Cough, which may progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing Irritability (most common in very young infants) Decreased activity (most common in very young infants) Decreased appetite (most common in very young infants) Apnea, pauses in breathing for more than 10 seconds (most common in very young infants) What to do if you think your child has RSV: Call your pediatrician! If you suspect your child might have RSV, consulting their healthcare provider is the best first line of defense. From here they will help you build an appropriate treatment plan for child. Keep in mind that many pediatrician offices offer 24/7 call lines.  If your child is experiencing retracted breathing (when the area between the ribs and in the neck sinks in when a person attempts to inhale), dehydration (not drinking and decrease in wet diapers) or apnea (pauses in breathing for more than 10 seconds) please call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

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Most babies weigh just one pound and are roughly the size of an eggplant when they reach 24 weeks of development inside the womb. It is a crucial stage when internal organs begin functioning, and the babies' respiratory and central nervous systems are still developing.     So, in November 2021 when Kallie Johnson experienced a premature rupture of amniotic fluid around this point in her pregnancy, her care team in Winnemucca decided to transport her via Care Flight to Renown Regional Medical Center. The team at Renown Children’s Hospital immediately began discussing the risks of delivering at 24 weeks with the Johnson family.  Moving Forward with Hope Knowing the stakes, Kallie remembers never feeling rushed to decide about delivering her baby preterm. “I felt educated and supported by my care team at Renown throughout our entire stay, starting with the education they provided about what it meant to deliver my baby early,” Kallie said. “The team really helped me make the best decision for myself and my family.”    Together, Renown employees and the Johnson family moved forward with a healthy set of nerves and a powerful feeling of hope.  Weighing in at one pound 11 ounces, Sloan entered the world on Nov. 19, 2021, via emergency Cesarean section. Her birth was classified as a micro preemie because she was born before week 26 of pregnancy and so small that she fit inside the palm of her father Sterling’s hand. A full-term pregnancy is classified as reaching 39 weeks.   A Fighting Chance  Called a fighter by many Renown Children’s Hospital care team members, Sloan spent over five months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She was placed on a ventilator, fed through a feeding tube and monitored 24/7, overcoming daily challenges with the Renown team and her family.  As a result of being born prematurely, Sloan developed a grade one brain bleed and a congenital heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus, a persistent opening between two major blood vessels, causing too much blood to flow to the lungs and heart.   To meet the oxygen needs of her tiny lungs, Sloan was intubated and developed a severe oral aversion and high-arched palate as a result. The effects would lead to difficult developmental and physical challenges that she still conquers today. Yet, with the help of her care team – including physical, occupational and speech therapists, dieticians and doctors – Sloan continues to make progress every day.

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Austin was five years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. A fever and pale looking skin prompted his mom, Brenda, to bring him into his primary care physician in Carson City. After doing some blood work, the fight to beat Austin's cancer began. The initial shock of learning your child has cancer is traumatic and can feel like a whirlwind. Then the questions begin – will my child survive, what happens next, how will we tell his siblings, will we have to travel out of state for quality care? The list of questions feel endless. While grappling with the news, Brenda brought Austin to Renown Children’s Hospital for an additional check-up. This weeklong hospitalization started with a series of tests to confirm Austin’s diagnosis and ultimately it led to treatment for the leukemia. Dr. Jacob Zucker, a pediatric oncologist at Renown Children's Hospital, was with Austin every step of the way, even meeting him in the parking garage on his first day of treatment. Brenda is eternally grateful that Dr. Zucker was on staff at Renown Children's Hospital, which allowed them to keep Austin's care in Reno. The alternative was to travel out of state for care. "Dr. Zucker was the best thing to ever happen to our family. I consider him a part of our family now," said Brenda. "His kindness and knowledge gave us faith in him." Treatment for Childhood Leukemia Austin’s treatment was broken into a number of stages with the first eight months of therapy being the hardest. He would receive almost weekly therapy at Renown Children’s Infusion Center as well as frequent spinal taps with chemotherapy. After eight months, and for the next three years, Austin would receive a maintenance phase therapy. This meant oral chemotherapy every day, IV chemotherapy once a month, spinal chemotherapy every three months and steroids for the first five days of every month. After more than four years of fighting cancer, Austin, now 10, is free of any disease. Currently, he has blood work every two months to ensure he is on the right track. Seeking Advice from Children’s Oncology Groups Throughout Austin's treatment, Brenda regularly sought advice from Children's Oncology Group (COG) members. COG is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood cancer. Renown Children's was not a member of COG at the time of Austin's treatment -- with the closest facilities located in the Bay Area and Salt Lake City – but it is /now. “When faced with pediatric cancer, the last thing parents should worry about is traveling great lengths to receive the best in cancer care," said Larry Duncan, Vice President of Pediatrics and Surgery and Administrator at Renown Children's Hospital. "We are proud to now offer the most advanced childhood cancer treatment options here at Renown, close to home and convenient for area patients and their families.” This membership allows Renown to enroll our youngest patients – just like Austin – in the latest clinical trials, including groundbreaking treatments, studies to understand these diseases better and in addition, this program will focus on supportive care and survivorship. "The COG allows Renown providers to access treatment plans that were not available to non-COG hospitals when Austin was receiving treatment," said Brenda. "It comforts me to know that not only can children receive cancer treatment right at home, but their parents can now elect for them to participate in trials and plans that are at the forefront of cancer treatment today." How You Can Help Make a Difference Renown Health is focused on being the destination for all your family’s health and healthcare needs. As a not-for-profit health system, Renown relies heavily on community funding. If you are interested in supporting Renown Health, and kids like Austin, please consider giving to Renown Health Foundation. Donations are accepted through the following ways: Make a gift at www.renown.org/give Call Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 Mail a check to Renown Health Foundation, 1155 Mill St., 02, Reno, NV 89502

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