Meet Addison Greenwell—a Kosair Kid
By Mary K. Korfhage
Imagine this: one evening, you put your happy and healthy
newborn son to bed. Then just hours later, he is clinging to
life, attached to a respirator.
This was the experience of Kim and Billy Greenwell of New
Albany, when their now healthy six year old son, Addison,
was only three weeks old.
Kim recalls, “Addison woke up in the middle of the night
crying and restless with a low-grade fever. Because of his
age, our pediatrician recommended we take him to the local
emergency room. When we arrived, Addison stopped breathing.
He was transported via the Kosair Baby Buggy ambulance to
Kosair Children’s Hospital.”
Although sometimes difficult to diagnose, doctors there
immediately recognized that Addison was suffering from an
acute case of Late Onset Strep B, which according to his
doctors, usually strikes fast and with virtually no warning
signs. His internal organs had shut down, and he was placed
on a respirator. He clung to life for fourteen days in the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kosair Children’s Hospital.
Over the next several months, Addison was in and out of
KCH nine times. During that time he was diagnosed with a
condition where the larynx collapses, which can potentially
cause suffocation.
As most parents who have children who have been patients
at Kosair Children’s Hospital, words can not adequately
describe the feelings of gratitude for the staff. “All you
can think of every day is that your child is alive because
of these caring people. At the time, you don’t think of
where the funding comes from for the salaries, equipment and
maintenance of the hospital. After Addison came home, we
talked about how proud each and every Shriner and volunteer
should be of their important work and fund-raising efforts.
They truly are making an impact in the lives of countless
families, including ours.”
Today, Addison is a happy, healthy, and yes, very active
six year old. He enjoys soccer, basketball and baseball, and
trading cards. And although their hospital stay is now only
a distant memory, their gratitude will last a lifetime.
Adda-boy, Addison!
Kosair Charities — protecting the most precious gift
of all, thanks to the generosity of caring people like you!
|
