'Absolutely terrifying': Two-month-old Sudbury boy hospitalized with RSV
A Sudbury family is sharing their story after their son spent a week in the hospital with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Jessie and Justin Gilroy said their son, Rhett, began vomiting and had a slight cough two weeks ago.
Jessie said her son is usually a happy, bubbly boy, but something didn’t seem right.
“His breathing was becoming super short and we know now it’s because his lungs were inflamed from the virus,” she said.
After rushing their son to Health Sciences North, the Gilroys said they were grateful staff attended to him right away.
“He was crying, throwing up, you could see in it his chest, his breathing struggles,” Justin said.
They said they were told Rhett might have to be put on a ventilator in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“That was absolutely terrifying because we both haven’t slept in a full day,” Jessie said.
“We’re wondering ‘what is going on? What does that mean?’”
Rhett was then quarantined in a room with a ventilator, double IVs and he was sedated.
“It was almost six days we couldn’t hold him,” Jessie said. “We could hold his hand and talk to him and sing to him and it kind of helped him.”
Rhett gradually began to get better and was finally able to go home one week later. He turned three-months-old just a few days ago.
“He was off his ventilator and he was sitting in a little chair and he’s looking around,” Jessie said.
“He’s all happy and that was the biggest turning point.”
A Sudbury family is sharing their story after their son spent a week in the hospital with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Jessie and Justin Gilroy said their son, Rhett, began vomiting and had a slight cough two weeks ago. (Photo from video)
While their son has improved, the Gilroy’s said they are still cautious. They say they’ve cancelled their Christmas plans out of precaution.
They say they want to raise awareness about the seriousness of RSV, and respect other parents’ wishes.
“It’s crazy how one little kiss can turn to that, or one little touch of the hand can do that,” Jessie said.
“It’s something that we never thought in a million years could happen to us and it was our worst nightmare.”
The Gilroys said they limit their social contacts and don’t know how this could have happened.
Carly Zubalich from Public Health Sudbury & Districts said there’s been a surge in respiratory illnesses across Canada. In Sudbury, she said hospital visits are at an all-time high compared to pre-pandemic.
“We’re seeing a higher number than what we’ve typically seen in the past number of visits for respiratory illness for individuals under the age of 18,” Zubalich said.
For most people, she said RSV causes only mild symptoms, but some groups are more susceptible to serious illness.
“There are some populations that are more vulnerable to more severe outcomes that would include older adults,” Zubalich said.
“(That includes) individuals with weakened immune systems, individuals with health conditions, along with individuals who are younger.”
The health unit recommends steps such as hand washing, masking in indoor spaces and staying home when sick to prevent the spread of illness.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.