A cough quickly turns into a fight for life

Reese was a healthy, happy toddler. But at 16 months, she woke up with a raspy voice, a cough and a slight fever. Another local hospital diagnosed her with croup and sent her home. But her condition worsened the next day and she was admitted to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the Fox Valley.

A chest X-ray was clear, but the doctor at Children's had a sense that something was wrong and started antibiotics to fight pneumonia. In the early morning hours, Reese took a serious turn for the worse. Doctors in Neenah consulted a Critical Care specialist at Children's in Milwaukee, who told them to continue their treatment and do another X-ray. The new X-ray shocked everyone. In one day, an aggressive pneumonia had filled Reese's left lung, making her gravely ill.

During the next four days, staff worked to turn the life-threatening infection around. Without the early course of antibiotics, the illness likely would have been worse – perhaps even fatal. And without the connection to Milwaukee specialists, Reese likely would have been transported far from home for her care.

"I am thankful every day that they saved my Reese," her mother says. "We will always hold the staff and our experience at Children's Hospital in our hearts."

Children's in the Fox Valley is the only hospital in Northeast Wisconsin that is dedicated to caring for children. And if your child ever needs more, we're your connection to Children's in Milwaukee, rated among the best pediatric hospitals in the nation.

Learn more about pediatric care at Children's in the Fox Valley.