Alicia Delbridge of Fort Frances still is breathing on her own after being taken off a ventilator last Wednesday, her father, Cory, wrote in an e-mail yesterday.
The one-year-old fell critically ill back on Aug. 6 while visiting relatives with her family in Calgary, but has shown signs of improvement recently.
In fact, her father said Alicia may be moved out of the intensive care unit within the next few days if she continues to improve.
The only immediate complication, he added, is the result of withdrawal symptoms from all the medications she’s been on for the past two weeks. But apart from being cranky and jittery, his daughter is bearing up well.
He also noted doctors have revised their original diagnosis.
Initially, it was thought the tot was suffering from myocarditis—an infection that causes inflammation of the heart muscle.
But now they are considering the possibility she has dilated non-schemic cardiomyopathy, which is an enlargement of the heart muscle as opposed to inflammation.
Delbridge noted the cause of this particular ailment is largely unknown.
Since the improvement in Alicia’s condition, one member of the family is now permitted to stay with her overnight.
Delbridge, the assistant manager at Canada Safeway here, remains in Calgary with his wife, Christina, and their son, Matthew.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
