Arizona baby becomes sick with botulism on first birthday
- Cole Hansberger’s mother noticed he was having trouble holding his head up the day before he turned one last week
- At 3am on his birthday Cole could not even sit up on his own
- His mother rushed him to the ER and he was later diagnosed with botulism
- He is still in the ICU and will likely be there for at least another week
Maggie O’Neill For Dailymail.com
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Arizona baby Cole Hansberger’s mother rushed him to the hospital the morning of his first birthday last week after she noticed her son could not sit up by himself
Jackie Hansberger was looking forward to celebrating her son Cole’s first birthday last week on August 6.
But instead, on that day she experienced the scare of lifetime when her lively baby became critically ill and and could not even hold his head up.
She rushed Cole to an emergency room near their home in Peoria, and he was soon transferred to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale.
He has since been diagnosed with botulism and has stayed in the intensive care unit for the past 11 days.
‘Cole is an amazing child with eyes that could light up a room and a personality to match,’ Cole’s father Robert wrote on a Gofundme page that was set up to help with the family’s medical bills.
‘Unfortunately as I write this he lays in the pediatric intensive care unit on life support with a feeding tube down his throat,’ Robert said, adding that he did not think he had ever cried as much as he has recently.
Jackie told the Arizona Republic yesterday that she has not been home once since her son was admitted to the hospital and she sits by his bedside all day.
Her husband is staying home with their four-year-old son.
‘Everyday I sit, stare at the monitor all day, just to make sure my son’s breathing and he’s okay,’ she said.
Jackie added: ‘Sometimes you get frustrated with your children but I would pay a million dollars just to hear my son cry right now. I haven’t held him in over a week.’
Cole has now been in the ICU for 11 days and was diagnosed with botulism. The rare disease occurs when someone consumes bacteria spores that come from dirt and soil and it can be fatal
‘Cole is an amazing child with eyes that could light up a room and a personality to match,’ Cole’s father Robert wrote on his Gofundme page
While Cole is supposed to make a full recovery, he has to stay in the ICU for another week and he is still in critical condition
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WHAT IS BOTULISM?
Botulism occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves.
According to the CDC symptoms are usually first noticeable when face muscles become weak.
The sensation will then spread to one’s neck, arms, legs and torso.
The disease can weaken the muscles that allow your body to breathe, which can in turn lead to death.
The CDC warns to go to the emergency room or your doctor immediately if you think you might have botulism.
You increase your risk of getting botulism if you:
- inject certain drugs – such as heroin – into your bodies
- eat home-fermented or home-canned foods that have not been prepared safely
- drink home-made alcohol
Her son is still in critical condition but doctors think he will make a full recovery.
Jackie first noticed that something with wrong with Cole the day before his first birthday, August 5, when his head started drooping.
At 5pm that evening, he became unable to crawl and at 3am on his birthday, his horrified mother noticed that he could not even sit up.
Botulism is a rare condition, affecting only 110 people in the US each year, 72 percent of which are infants.
The disease is caused by consuming bacteria spores that can come from dirt, soil and some foods.
Washing produces reduces the chances of getting botulism.
A classic symptom – which Cole experienced – is muscle weakness and botulism can eventually lead to paralysis.
Cole’s doctor told the Arizona Republic parents need to be aware of botulism’s symptoms so they know to seek medical attention immediately should they recognize them.
He said that Cole is on a ventilator and has little movement in his arms and legs.
Cole will have to remain in the ICU for another week and he will have to have physical therapy to relearn muscle memory after that, which could take months.
A day ago, Cole’s father updated his Gofundme page and wrote that his son has a collapsed lung.
He said Cole stopped breathing yesterday and doctors had to resuscitate.
‘It the most terrifying thing I had to see as a father and I’m having trouble keeping it together,’ he said.
‘Please continue to pray for our little man.’
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