Could Bucks Co. Girl Be PA's 1st With Rare COVID-Linked Syndrome?

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — First it was a high fever. Then it was gastrointestinal issues, panting, and a racing heart.

As a mother, Amy Fitzpatrick was on high alert.

Within 12 hours, Fitzpatrick's 8-year-old daughter was fighting for her life. She spent 10 days in the I.C.U. at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia after being diagnosed with severe sepsis, toxic shock, and kidney failure.

Now, with Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) making headlines because doctors believe it could be linked to COVID-19, Fitzpatrick is left wondering: was it coronavirus?

"We believe our daughter may have been the first" in Pennsylvania with the rare syndrome, said Fitzpatrick, an Ivyland resident. They are currently awaiting the results of a coronavirus antibody test "although it is still a rather imperfect science."

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Wednesday that the state had not confirmed any cases of the syndrome, but was reaching out to children's hospitals to investigate. On Friday, she said the department has since learned that there are cases in the state but details were not yet available.

The rare syndrome has led to at least three deaths in New York. The CDC on Thursday put out a warning to doctors, requesting providers report any patients showing symptoms of a multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

At the time, the "best explanation" for how the previously healthy 8-year-old went from normal to fighting for her life in 24 hours was that the flu caused severe sepsis and toxic shock. But no bacteria were ever identified, Fitzpatrick said.

The family had not traveled anywhere, other than to a wrestling tournament in Montgomery County the weekend before. And, at the time, there had been no reported cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania.

"We hope that sharing the details of our story will help others to seek prompt medical attention for symptoms in their children that may not look like classic coronavirus: fever, bloodshot eyes, GI symptoms, leg pain, blue lips, panting breath, rashy/pink skin," Fitzpatrick wrote in a Facebook post that has now been shared more than 1,400 times.

Patch spoke with Fitzpatrick Friday, and she elaborated on the family's harrowing experience in hopes of educating parents who may find themselves in the same rare situation.

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It began Feb. 13.

Fitzpatrick's younger son was fighting off a dry cough for about a week.

In the middle of the night, her daughter, who Fitzpatrick has asked not be identified by first name, began exhibiting alarming symptoms. In addition to the high fever, the 8-year-old's heart was racing, she was panting, and had diarrhea.

But since she was walking, talking, and alert, they did not go to the emergency room. In the morning, she complained of leg pain and weakness. She was lethargic and "slightly pink" all over, and her skin blanched when pressed, Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick called the pediatrician, who said the symptoms could be common of a virus. However, the doctor said to keep a close eye on her daughter throughout the day, and bring her in if she got worse.

Fitzpatrick checked on her every hour as the girl rested. But in the early afternoon, she became extremely and alarmingly lethargic.

That was when Fitzpatrick knew she had to seek help.

By the time they arrived at the doctor's office, the girl was "barely responsive." Her lips were blue, and her eyes were extremely bloodshot. As the doctor called for an ambulance, they got her to eat a snack of a cracker and a banana because her blood sugar was dangerously low.

At the Abington Emergency Room, her blood pressure crashed and her cheeks turned "bright red," Fitzpatrick explained. Doctors had difficulty stabilizing her. "They realized they could not immediately care for her at Abington," she said.

They called for an ambulance to transport her to CHOP. But when it arrived, she was too unstable to make the trip.

So they called for a helicopter.

"I truly believe her life was saved by a CHOP ambulance RN and the nephrologist who happened to be on duty from DuPont at our local ER. They got her stabilized and we flew to CHOP, where we were met by no less than ten doctors in the ICU."

There, she was intubated. Doctors struggled to maintain her oxygen on and off for days.

She was treated with three different antibiotics and was diagnosed with severe septic shock, toxic shock, and acute kidney failure. She also had respiratory issues.

But "every day she got better," Fitzpatrick said.

Ten days later, she was discharged, and she's been doing fine ever since.

Fitzpatrick knows her family is lucky. She found out later that doctors did not expect her daughter to survive the helicopter ride to CHOP. (CHOP does not comment on specific cases, a spokesperson said.)

In the months that followed, the severity of the coronavirus pandemic became evident.

Fitzpatrick saw more and more headlines about the pediatric inflammatory syndrome and its link to the virus. Given her symptoms and the diagnosis of toxic shock and sepsis, the family's pediatrician believes the girl had PIMS and advised them to do the antibody testing, as well as have a follow up with a cardiologist.

The antibody test results are expected next week, Fitzpatrick said. If positive, her pediatrician will report the case to the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health.

As Fitzpatrick's awaits her daughter's antibody test, she is urging parents whose children may experience the same rare symptoms to seek medical help.

"The only reason she's alive is the time in the course of this that we went to the hospital," she said.