Isaac Lehmann, a 9-month-old baby from Cullman, AL, is in a coma after contracting RSV, a life-threatening virus [1] that can lead to long-term breathing issues and reduced adult lung function later in life. Marisa Griffin, a close friend of the family's, told POPSUGAR that although Isaac had a runny nose and a fever for about four days, the symptoms started to subside. Isaac's parents thought he was in the clear until they noticed his breathing started getting shallow and immediately took him to the emergency room.
"Isaac and his family were on the way to the ER, which is about three minutes away, when he stopped breathing. He was resuscitated after 10 to 12 minutes, which is a substantial time without oxygen," she said, adding that, "He was then airlifted from Cullman Hospital to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, AL."
Although doctors suspected that little Isaac had pneumonia or the flu at first, the doctors confirmed that the culprit was in fact RSV. Isaac is currently in critical condition, and his family wants his story to be shared so other parents don't have to experience the same heartbreak they're dealing with.
"Isaac is currently in a coma from his heart stopping," explained Marisa. "Doctors are unsure of his prognosis and are mostly concerned with his brain activity, as the portion of his brain that controls walking, talking, vision, and short-term memory is severely damaged."
Isaac is currently in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, AL. We hope that he continues down the road to recovery. According to a recent Facebook post [3], Isaac is being monitored by doctors 24/7 in an effort to prevent seizures. Thankfully, he's surrounded by a big support system.
"His family and friends know Isaac is a fighter and we are seeing signs of improvement every day, including movement of his arms, feet, and eyes opening! What will happen, we don't know, but we stand strong in our faith and know that Isaac is in good hands."
Interested in helping this family offset the cost of Isaac's medical bills? Donate to the cause through his GoFundMe page [4].