Recently, our 11-year-old son contracted Flu A with all of the terrible symptoms we would have expected.  As the day progressed, his condition deteriorated quickly to the point that he lost the ability to open his jaw along with a newly formed rash on his face.  We mistakenly surmised that he pulled a muscle in his jaw and popped some blood vessels when he was vomiting earlier in the day. 

Even though we believed it to "simply" be the nasty flu that had made so many kids sick recently, we decided to take him to his pediatrician Dr. Margaret Patterson to see if she had any recommendations to lessen his symptoms and speed up his recovery.  

Dr. Patterson was very quick to realize that he was suffering from much more than the typical Flu that had been going around.  She diagnosed him with severe dehydration and a swollen parotid gland which was impacting his jaw.  She told us to immediately go to the ER.  She called ahead to the ER so that they would expect us but also to share her findings and diagnosis ahead of time. 

Our son was officially diagnosed with Flu A as we expected but also with Strep that had turned Septic.  The hospital treated him for 3 days with very heavy doses of antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and pain medicine.  The treating physicians eventually explained to us in terms we could understand exactly how very sick our son had become.  

He is expected to make a full recovery.  

Dr. Patterson, as well as all of the doctors who treated our son commented that having Strep turn septic is rare but moreover the presentation of his condition was perhaps even more rare.  Despite the rarity of the condition, Dr. Patterson was able to diagnose and recommend the next course of action immediately.  Through her good work and those at the ER, they were able to prevent the infection on his blood from reaching his organs.

As parents we don't know enough about medicine to be certain, but we firmly believe that Dr. Patterson's quick action and attentiveness likely saved our son's life, or at a minimum, prevented much more serious consequences for our little guy by getting him the required attention we would have ordinarily.    

We could not be any more grateful for having Dr. Patterson treating our son and can't recommend her and her practice any more highly.  

-Ben & Sarah Keddie