TORONTO — Kathryn McKissock is finally able to get some sleep after days of worrying about her daughter.
Two weeks ago, six-year-old Jordan was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease along with a number of other infections.
Kawasaki disease is common in children under the age of five. How it is contracted is unknown, and if it is not treated within the first 10 days of onset, it can cause damage to the child’s arteries and heart.
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Since Jordan was admitted, she has undergone several tests and treatments but McKissock said this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what her daughter has had to endure since she fell ill.
It all began in early February when Jordan became ill with the flu. Her mother says she was sleeping all day, had a fever of more than 101 F, would not eat and a rash broke out all over her body.
McKissock took her daughter to Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, Ont. where she said the doctors there prescribed Jordan antibiotics and sent her home.
But 10 days later, the antibiotics did nothing, and Jordan was back at Lakeridge – her fever was still high and her health was deteriorating.
“Symptoms had gotten so much worse. She had myositis in her legs, she couldn’t walk,” McKissock said.
“She was sleeping, her rash started to join together, her palms were swollen and her mouth — many, many symptoms.”
After a few visits, McKissock alleged the hospital simply brushed it off telling her there was nothing more they could do for her daughter.
“They said, ‘Kids get sick,’ that is what they told me. They refused to do any further tests,” she said.
“I was told to go and told them I am going to take her to SickKids and I want all my records of me being here.”
After her ordeal, McKissock took to social media and created a Facebook page telling her story and urging others to come forward.
She said the number of stories about alleged mistreatment and neglect at Lakeridge Health is overwhelming.
Global News got in touch with Lakeridge Health in Oshawa regarding the allegations.
They told us that due to patient confidentiality they cannot comment on any specific cases.
“When we receive a formal patient complaint, we do a full internal review. Now that we’ve been able to connect with the family, we’ll start that process right away, and we’ll keep the family informed as we go,” Lloyd Rang, a spokesman for Lakeridge Health said in a statement to Global News.
“As a dad who lives in this community, I want to make sure Durham families get the best possible care at their hospital — and I know the health care professionals here feel the same way. So when a patient comes to us with an issue, we want to work with them to make sure we’re always providing excellent care.”
McKissock said she had spoken with Lakeridge Health’s patient relations regarding her alleged ordeal, who said they would conduct an investigation and will get back to her in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s health is improving, but she will require physiotherapy and will need to have regular checkups on her heart.
Her mother says she hopes Jordan will be back to school sometime in April.
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