Thierry’s Triumph over Challenges: A Case of RSV Leads to Myocarditis
Veronica Kobes and her husband, Christian, were overjoyed to find out they were expecting their third child. Already parents to two adorable girls, ages 2 and 4 years old, the couple chose to keep the gender a surprise until their baby’s birth.
On September 8, 2023, the Kobes welcomed their son Thierry in a planned home birth with a nurse midwife.
It was an incredible moment,
said Veronica. The anticipation of meeting our baby was beyond words. Keeping the gender a surprise until birth added an extra layer of excitement. Upon delivering him, my husband and I had the privilege of catching him, and in that precious moment, he exclaimed, ‘It’s a boy.’ Our joy was twofold – we were elated to welcome our baby into the world, and the added surprise of having a baby boy made the experience even sweeter.
Diagnosis of RSV leads to NICU Stay
Two weeks after their son’s homebirth, the couple’s joy took an unexpected turn when Thierry was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a condition which primarily affects the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and congestion.
Even after seeing their pediatrician, Thierry remained congested and struggled to breathe when he woke up from his naps. The couple decided to go to the nearest emergency room at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - New Braunfels.
Within hours, Thierry's condition escalated. He was transferred to CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio on September 22. Upon arrival, he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Thierry received breathing treatments and oxygen support through a nasal cannula. During his hospital stay, Thierry developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, often caused by infections and other factors that can affect the heart’s pumping ability.
We had many doctors monitoring him,
said Veronica. Thierry had X-rays, echocardiograms and troponin level measurements to track his heart health. Dr. Govinda Paudel, our son’s pediatric cardiologist, led the care team in addressing Thierry’s condition. We learned the immune response triggered by RSV resulted in an additional immune response in his heart, leading to inflammation.
These tests helped Dr. Paudel and his team diagnose and monitor Thierry during his stay at CHRISTUS Children’s.
While it's not common for RSV to lead to myocarditis, it's crucial to understand the unpredictable nature of viral infections,
said Dr. Paudel. In Thierry's case, the immune response triggered by RSV inadvertently affected his heart. When the body encounters RSV, the immune system mounts a response to fight the virus. In some patients, this immune response can become overly aggressive or misdirected, leading to inflammation in various parts of the body, including the heart.
In the NICU, Thierry had immunoglobulin therapy to address his myocarditis, aiming to alleviate the heart inflammation.
He also faced an arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat that was a result of the myocarditis. Despite initial concerns, Thierry's echocardiograms demonstrated excellent heart function, providing reassurance about his overall cardiac health.
Thierry spent about two-and-a-half weeks in the NICU at CHRISTUS Children’s where Veronica said he received exceptional care.
The NICU staff was absolutely phenomenal,
said Veronica. Despite their busy schedules, they took the time to communicate with us. The nurse practitioners, Brenda, Aldolfo, and Brianna, were amazing, providing attentive care. Dr. Govinda Paudel explained Thierry's myocarditis thoroughly, and the respiratory team that treated Thierry's RSV was also incredible. They helped me better understand what was happening, and I appreciated the attention and support they provided.
Thierry overcomes RSV and heart inflammation
Thierry, who recently celebrated his first birthday, is thriving. His parents affectionately describe him as an easy-going baby with a sweet temperament who enjoys mealtimes. He sees his pediatrician in New Braunfels for regular checkups to ensure his continued well-being.
Our son has just added so much joy to the family,” said Veronica. “He is my little gentle giant and loves to be held. His 4-year-old sister loves to help me take care of him. We are just in love with our little guy.
Although he faced a few issues with RSV and his heart inflammation, we are grateful he got the care that he received when he needed it at CHRISTUS Children’s.”
For more information about the NICU at CHRISTUS Children’s, visit: CHRISTUS Children’s | NICU (christushealth.org).
