In Support of Eliana Rivera

A few weeks ago, Eliana was excited and looking forward to going through her baptism class at her family's church. Her dad, Emo, had been talking with her about the Gospel and everything that baptism means as a Christ follower.

On Sunday, August 9th, Eliana started to feel ill with diarrhea and vomiting.

On Monday, August 10th, she was taken to the hospital because of a lack of fluids (she could not keep anything down) and the presence of blood in her stools.

She was treated and then sent home that day, but was back again on Tuesday, August 11th, due to continued low fluids and symptoms. Around this time, her bloodwork came back, and she was diagnosed with a serious E. Coli infection...one connected with the production of Shiga toxin. The doctors were concerned the Eliana was developing HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome), a condition that greatly affects the kidneys in young children suffering from gastrointestinal infections.

She was transferred via ambulance to Children's Hospital at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. As her symptoms quickly worsened, the decision was made to start dialysis to help the kidneys heal. On Friday, August 14th, the doctors began the preparation for dialysis through the insertion of a catheter. Complications of slurred speech and general confusion/lack of lucidity began to occur as a result of no sleep, and the effects of the toxin build up.

During the process of catheterization early Saturday morning, August 15th, Eliana's oxygen levels dropped to the level where intubation was needed. To complicate matters further, she had a seizure, which required a CT scan to verify there was not a brain bleed. Thankfully, the results of the CT scan came back negative for a brain bleed.

Eliana continues to daily battle the effects of HUS and the ways it has attacked her various systems.

For more information on Eliana's health battle prior to August 20th, please visit our previous site: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/fcb069b6-991e-11f1-b23c-d704bb765560
Caring bridge will remain accessible for previous updates, but it will not be updated moving forward.

***From this point forward (August 20th and beyond), all updates will be moved to this site.***

Thank you for your continued prayers for Eliana!

Many of you have asked about wanting to assist the Riveras financially with the rising medical costs.  You will be able to donate now through this page (since CaringBridge did not have a way to donate).  Thank you so much for your generosity!  

We have moved to this site to be able to consolidate all updates, meals, and donations into one site.