MEMPHIS — Nearly two weeks after he began experiencing lung complications following a tracheotomy, toddler Jackson Virga started to show progress, his family shared; however, he was then diagnosed with a bacterial infection this week. That’s another setback his family was not expecting.
In June, Virga’s family shared that he had ended up in the ICU with lung issues and he was put on a ventilator for several weeks due to his lungs not functioning properly. Doctors then performed a tracheotomy, which would allow Virga to get off the ventilator, eat, and do physical therapy, his mother had shared.
However, soon after the procedure, Virga began experiencing more complications, with his blood oxygen levels dipping to around 60, even with his oxygen on the ventilator turned all the way up. On July 2, doctors moved the toddler from a regular ventilator to an oscillator to help.
By Independence Day, the staff had weaned Virga off the oscillator a considerable amount and were even able to move him around to change out his bed linens. His labwork was encouraging, and doctors made plans to wean him off the oscillator to go back to a regular ventilator.
Over the next several days, medical staff worked to slowly wean Virga off the oscillator, since his oxygen levels initially kept attempting to drop.
Last Friday, Virga’s lungs X-ray came back completely clear with no white spots at all, a good sign of progress, his family shared. Doctors started the toddler on a pulmonary surfactant medication over the weekend as well.
This week he received another dose of the surfactant along with plasma. On Tuesday evening, the family shared that Virga tested positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae in his urinary tract and respiratory system. This is not news they were hoping for, but doctors put the toddler on antibiotics and are helping by suctioning mucus.
“Please send some uplifting thoughts and prayers and especially that these antibiotics kick the bacteria in the butt” the family posted on social media.
In addition, there are options to help Virga’s family financially. You can visit their Bonfire store to purchase shirts, tumblers, mugs, hats and more. Sales proceeds will go to Virga’s family. The family also has a GoFundMe for monetary donations.
Previous story July 1
MEMPHIS — After celebrating news that he was cancer-free following a bone marrow transplant, a toddler with an extremely rare leukemia is now facing lung complications. He recently underwent a tracheotomy procedure after spending weeks on a ventilator.
Young Jackson Virga went through a bone marrow transplant earlier this year and in late May, doctors declared he had “no leukemia cells in his blood.” The toddler’s bone marrow is now 100% the donor’s marrow and all signs of JMML are gone.
However, it wasn’t long before he faced some medical setbacks.
In June, Virga’s family shared that he had ended up in the ICU with lung issues, which doctors believed was caused by vessel damage through a previous condition. Doctors put the toddler on a ventilator for several weeks due to his lungs not functioning properly.
A recent CT scan confirmed one of his lungs is still just not inflated like it should be and needs extra help. In the last few days, doctors performed a tracheotomy. The trach allows the toddler to get off the ventilator, eat, do physical therapy, and more, his mom shared on social media. It also means he won’t have to be sedated as often and rely on the ventilator for breathing.
While this has been a setback, Virga’s mother said the tracheotomy was necessary to help him continue to heal and make progress in his body’s growth, as well.
The family posted the following message on Facebook Tuesday evening:
Update as of 9:00 pm on 6/30: Jackson had a scope done this morning. The scope showed no abnormality in his lungs other than the posterior lung being collapsed. His tracheotomy went really well and he seems to be more comfortable than with the tube in his throat. He is still resting at the moment and they will keep him more sedated for 48 hours to give the trach time to heal. Hopefully they will start weaning sedation this weekend so he can start physical therapy to regain his strength and respiratory rehab to continue the process of healing his lungs. Please keep this sweet boy in your prayers.
Jackson Virga’s JMML journey
Last year, little Jackson Virga was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer for his age: Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia or JMML. JMML is rare, occurring in 1-2 cases per 1 million people.
His mother shared on social media that because of her son’s case and treatments at St. Jude, there are five more JMML patients going to St. Jude’s. Those patients will benefit from the research of Virga’s treatments.
“Their treatment process is going to be better because (the doctors) have learned so much from him, and though our journey hasn’t been the easiest, it’s going to make the next family’s journey easier,” LeJeune said.
Virga has been at St. Jude’s in Memphis since November last year.
He was around three months old and had just started daycare when his parents noticed some changes. He’d been a happy baby, but soon he was crying more, coughing, and sneezing, so they took him to the pediatrician, who said he probably had a virus.
“It’ll be fine, it’ll go away. I kept bringing him to the pediatrician, and they kept just saying it was a virus,” LeJeune recalled. She’s thankful she kept pushing to find a doctor who would listen to her.
“As a mom, trust your gut right now. If a doctor is telling you something and you don’t feel right about it, get a second opinion. Because, if we didn’t do that, we could be having a different conversation a year from now and Jackson wouldn’t be as lucky,” LeJeune said.
To help support the family, visit their Bonfire store to purchase shirts, tumblers, mugs, hats and more. Sales proceeds will go to Virga’s family. The family also has a GoFundMe for donations.
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