Altoona, PA: 11-year-old girl dies of staph infection and possible influenza

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http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/c...Family-requests-prayers-for-girl.html?nav=742

Family requests prayers for girl
11-year-old daughter still hospitalized, connected to tubes
April 15, 2011
By Kristy MacKaben (For the Mirror) , The Altoona Mirror
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March 23 was a stormy day with high winds, rain and hail pounding some areas, while a tornado touched down not far away in Westmoreland County.

The tumultuous weather might have been a foreshadowing of events to come for the Sweeney family of Duncansville, whose youngest child, 11-year-old Regina, ended up hospitalized in Pittsburgh that night with a life-threatening illness.

In the three weeks since, Regina's parents, Kathy and Dr. Gregory Sweeney, have remained faithfully upbeat and thankful to God and the community that rallied behind them.

A medical enigma

Regina began breathing rapidly after developing a fever the night before, and her parents took her to the emergency room at Altoona Regional Health System, Altoona Hospital Campus. Kathy Sweeney said the doctors noticed her daughter's lungs weren't working properly and recommended Regina be taken to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

The storms prevented a medical helicopter transport, so Regina was rushed by ambulance to Pittsburgh. There, the doctors began a battery of tests.

"Every department except Orthopedics has been in here trying to figure it out," she said from Regina's bedside in Pittsburgh. "She's been poked and prodded, and she's just so innocent."

Eventually doctors determined Regina had influenza, which led to a staph infection in her lungs. She's hooked up to a blood bypass machine and a ventilator. She has had surgery to remove blood clots in her left lung, is on blood thinners and at one point had four chest tubes. Regina's mother said she is weak on her left side, so doctors are unsure whether she might have suffered a stroke.

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Re: Altoona, PA: 11-year-old girl hospitalized in critical condition as a result of influenza and staph infection

Re: Altoona, PA: 11-year-old girl hospitalized in critical condition as a result of influenza and staph infection

This might just be a staph infection; the article does not mention influenza at all.

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/c...-passes-after-monthlong-struggle.html?nav=742

Local girl passes after monthlong struggle
April 22, 2011
By Kristy MacKaben - For the Mirror , The Altoona Mirror
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DUNCANSVILLE - The Sweeney family of Duncansville was hoping for an Easter miracle to heal their little girl, but the miracle may have taken a different form.

Regina Sweeney, 11, passed away Wednesday afternoon in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh surrounded by her parents, Kathy and Dr. Gregory Sweeney; her seven siblings; friends; and their priest, Monsignor Anthony Little, who prayed together at her bedside.

"It was a nice and prayerful gathering," Little said. "We prayed the rosary together. She didn't need any prayers to get to heaven."

Kathy Sweeney described her youngest child as a spunky, fun-loving tomboy. She said Regina put up a fight during the month-long struggle for her life, which began as a fever and developed into a staph infection of the lungs.

Regina's parents decided to have her taken off life support at 3 p.m., "the hour of mercy" in the Catholic faith.

"There was a significance to the time. There was lots of bleeding in her lungs. They couldn't stop the infection. They were beginning to think it was a new strain of staph that doesn't respond to anything. They were using more and more medication. There wasn't any choice. We just had to pick a time," Kathy said.

"The outcome isn't what we had hoped for, but we do trust there is a reason for it," she said.

A friend who prayed by the bedside, Beth Britz of Hollidaysburg, said, "I was witness to the most beautiful act of love anyone could ever imagine - a mother, father, five brothers and two sisters saying goodbye to their beautiful little sister and daughter and sending her into God's loving arms."

Another family friend at Regina's bedside was Elsie Shivas, whose 11-year-old daughter, Helena, was Regina's best friend.

"Regina's friendship and presence will be sorely missed, but Helena consoles herself with the knowledge that she has an eternal friend in heaven. As we finished our bedtime prayers last night, Helena spontaneously concluded, 'Regina, pray for us,'" Shivas said.

Faith has been a resounding theme through Regina's struggle.

During the four weeks she was hospitalized, thousands of people prayed for her. Nightly vigils were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Newry, benefit dinners were organized and a Facebook page created in her honor had more than 3,000 members.

"Everyone was certainly asking for a miracle. The primary one was for Regina's healing. The miracle that really was manifested was the connection between people," Little said.

One person on Thursday posted on the "Pray for Regina" page: "It's amazing to me that people are still posting and reaching out days after. ... This site needs to stay open."

Little said he saw an e-mail on Thursday from someone from Thailand who was praying for Regina.

"I was very surprised that her journey has been so uplifting for so many people," Kathy said. "The way we look at it is she is in the glory of God right now and is happy and peaceful."

The significance of her passing away during Holy Week was not lost on Little, who said the family is filled with faith, even during this difficult time.

"There must be a significance, going this whole month with her suffering. We think of Lent as the Passion. The Monsignor, he said she's already had her Easter. She's risen. There has to be a connection. I don't know God's plan, but my faith isn't shaken at all," Kathy said.

Little said he expects the funeral Mass for Regina to be packed.

A viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Sorge Funeral Home in Hollidaysburg, and a funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's.

"As parents, our goal is to get our children to heaven and we already have one there," Kathy said. "Don't canonize her as a saint. She was a loving, happy girl with five older brothers and two older sisters. She could get in the mix with all of them. She was fun. She enjoyed life. She loved music. She had a deep faith, too, and I'm grateful for that, because she will be received into heaven."