Sept. 30, 1999
Every day most of us experience the simple pleasures of going home, and arriving in a comfortable place.
This
story is about a five-year-old girl who, for several scary months, has not been able to go home. She's been living in a hospital room, with an illness that was, and is, a mystery to her doctors.
News Specialist Angela An has her remarkable story.
For a time, doctors at Primary Children's Medical Center didn't think Brooke Call would survive.
But she did, and for five months, this hospital turned into Brooke's second home, and her second family.
Friends and neighbors waited anxiously for Brooke Call to come home.
"BROOKIE-- WHERE ARE WE GOING TODAY? HOME..."
For the first time in 5 months, Brooke
will walk out of Primary Children's with her parents and older brother.
"CAN YOU GIVE THEM A THUMBS UP? NO. HOW ABOUT TWO THUMBS UP? YEAH..."
Brooke's symptoms started April 20th with a fever of 105.
"THEY BASICALLY SAID PUT HER IN A COOL BATH AND SHE'LL BE FINE."
But Brooke's condition only got worse.
Anissa Call/Mother: "SHE WAS COMPLETELY LETHARGIC ON THE COUCH. COULDN'T GET HER TO RESPOND TO US AT ALL. HER EYES WOULD ROLL TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD."
Paula Peterson/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: "IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT SHE WAS VERY SICK, AND NEEDED INTENSIVE CARE."
For the next few months, doctors performed every test available.
After months of CAT scans, MRI's and spinal taps, doctors could only come up with a probable diagnosis-- viral encephalitis.
The source-- still unknown.
"EVEN IF WE WERE TO SAY IT WAS DUE TO SPECIFIC X, THE TREATMENT WOULD BE THE SAME."
"DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS TO TREVOR?
Trevor Martin is Brooke's occupational therapist.
Twice each day, the two would meet.
Trevor: "GOOD GIRL... WAY TO GO WITH YOUR PRETTY HAND."
Brooke rehabilitated so well, doctors said she could go home.
And that meant, saying good-bye.
On this day, emotions of happiness are mixed with fear,
but also hope, that Brooke Call will someday become the little girl she once was.
Mother: "I'LL TAKE HER ANYWAY I CAN GET HER."
Brooke's parents say they won't give up the search for an answer, as to what caused their little girl to suffer so much.
Meanwhile, doctors say there's a good chance Brooke can fully recover with the help of therapy.
