By Cinthia Rico Whether diving for a dig in volleyball, pushing herself to the finish line in cross country, or sinking a bank shot in basketball, Jaxson Bruce is a tough, resilient, and fierce athlete who doesn’t give up.
Those attributes served the Plainview High School freshman well during more than three weeks of extensive blood work, multiple procedures and dialysis treatments for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli hemolytic-uremic syndrome or STEC-HUS.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of persons who contract STEC (E-coli) will battle the infection without any consequences, but due to the Shiga toxin, a small percentage will develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
HUS is a condition that can occur when the small blood vessels in your kidneys become damaged and inflamed. The damage can lead to blood clots forming in the arteries, which clog the filtering system in the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.
Infection most typically occurs by eating contaminated food, particularly raw or undercooked meat. On Saturday, February 11, shortly after eating a cheeseburger, Jaxson fell ill with bodily aches and a headache.
Parents, Brad and Shea Bruce noted the symptoms remained through the night and by early Sunday morning she had developed a 101 temp. Due to her symptoms, they thought it could be something viral like the flu. However, by Sunday afternoon, Jaxson began experiencing a sharp abdominal pain in the center of her stomach.
According to Shea, for the next two days the pain became more frequent and intense, as she began exhibiting other symptoms.
“It hurt her to sit or lay down,” recalled her parents. “She would stand and bend over for some relief.”
Jaxson was seen by DeKalb Urgent Care and Wellness Clinic local on Monday night where they ran tests, blood work and later submitted a stool specimen.
The following night after three nights of no sleep with pain, diarrhea and vomiting Jaxson was admitted to DeKalb Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, where a CT scan revealed her stomach was full of colitis and she was transferred to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham for further testing and treatment.
“On our way to Children’s Ashley Thomas from DeKalb Urgent Care contacted me with results from the test that showed she was positive Shiga toxin producing E. coli or STEC,” said Shea.
Following a confirmed diagnosis from Children’s, Jaxson was admitted to try to flush toxins out.
“We thought she would be there for a few days,” admitted her parents. However, Jaxson’s stay would be much longer, stretching out to 21 days in care. Additionally due to protocol, only her parents and older brother were permitted to see her during her stay.
The Bruces were also informed in an effort to try and prevent hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney damage Jaxson wouldn’t be given pain medication or antibiotics.
“She was in unbearable pain for three long days and nights,” her parents recall. Despite their efforts, by Thursday, Feb. 16 Jaxson had developed HUS and the Bruces were introduced to the Nephrology team, who after more blood work delivered the devastating news that her kidneys were temporarily failing and she would need to start 24 hour dialysis.
“At that point we hadn’t slept in six nights,” said Shea. “On Saturday, they took us to the PICU and placed the IV port in her neck because her numbers continued to fall. This was the first time she had slept in over a week and they were finally able to give her pain meds.”
A few days later, Jaxson was moved to the Special Care where she was monitored closely in hopes her kidneys would regain function on their own. She continued three hour dialysis every other day via a neck port for the rest of the week and weekend as her condition seemed to improve.
Unfortunately by Saturday, Feb. 25 she became ill once more, her body began swelling and her blood pressure was high, which resulted in more dialysis than originally anticipated.
“On March 1, they performed the procedure to take the neck IV out to prevent infection and placed a chest port to continue dialysis as long as needed,” her parents said. The Bruces were discharged the following day, but their stay at home would be short lived, as Jaxson’s condition took a downward turn.
“She was coughing non-stop, couldn’t sleep and was very swollen,” Shea said. Back at the hospital three liters of fluid were removed, her oxygen levels had dropped and the high blood pressure continued – she was readmitted.
“We ended up staying four more days at Children’s where they did dialysis several times and took around six liters of fluids,” recalled the Bruces. “I can’t describe how bad it was to see your kid go through something like that, be in pain and you can’t take it away,” added Shea.
After 21 days, on March 7 Jaxson was discharged. A few days later, her doctor confirmed that the blood tests sent to Iowa had revealed she was positive for Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (AHUS) , a very rare disease that causes tiny blood clots to form in the small blood vessels of your body. She later began infusions for AHUS every eight weeks.
Behind the overwhelming support from family, friends and fellow athletes, Jaxson returned to school with her chest port still in.
Brad said Jaxon attended half days and continued her studies en route to finishing the 2022-23 school year.
On Mar. 23 after two weeks of no dialysis, her chest port was removed and a few weeks later, she was taken off the renal diet and released.
“At that point she had lost down to 90 pounds (-15lbs),” Shea said. “She is a miracle and the toughness she has shown throughout inspires me.”
Standing firm behind their motto “God’s Got This,’ throughout their journey, the Jaxson got saved once she returned to church. “She thought she was saved before, but this really touched her and all of us in a way, and she wanted to make sure,” noted Shea.
Today, Jaxson has resumed her sports career. Her road to recovery has not been without its challenges from building her energy levels back up to finding a new pace.
“I think her doing gymnastics for seven years and playing sports has helped her overcome this,” said Brad.
Speaking of her cross country training, Shea said, “When she would get so upset because she wasn’t able to run far, I would say ‘listen, ‘you getting out there and doing this is an inspiration to everybody.’”
Moving forward, Jaxson continues receiving checkups. Her case is also being used for research due to its rarity and the Bruces hope her story brings awareness to this rare disease.
Mountain Valley News (MVN) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print. At MVN, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community. Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience! Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.