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Our Kids - Meet Amber

Living almost five hours away from Toronto, Amber's family didn't know much about The Hospital for Sick Children. That changed when Amber fell very ill and became a patient of SickKids, fighting for her life.

Amber, Subdural Empyema

In July 2008, Amber began to experience a severe headache. Her headache grew increasingly worse and she developed a high fever and began vomiting. Her mother rushed Amber to their local hospital. On the way, Amber began to lose mobility in her left leg. The hospital immediately admitted her and began running test to determine the cause of her sudden deterioration. An MRI helped locate an infection in Amber’s brain. The doctors at the hospital decided Amber needed the specialized care of a paediatric hospital. Within hours she was airlifted to SickKids.

Specialists at SickKids quickly diagnosed Amber with Subdural Empyema, which is a severe infection that involves a collection of pus in the space between the skull and the brain. This infection is life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Doctors believe Amber developed this due to a sinus infection, which spread to her brain.

Within hours of arriving at SickKids, Amber underwent surgery to remove the infection that proved to be bacterial in origin. During surgery, doctors removed part of her skull to allow room for post-operation swelling.

SickKids is a place we never thought we would see, but when Amber got sick, it’s the first place we wanted to be.
- Shelley (Amber’s mother)

Amber appeared to be recovering well after the first few hours of surgery but suddenly she began to have multiple seizures. Doctors rushed her into a second surgery, this time removing more of the infection and more of the skull. Following this second surgery, Amber was admitted to the Critical Care Unit for around-the-clock care. While in the Critical Care Unit, Amber’s doctor sedated her to keep her in a drug-induced coma to prevent further brain swelling. She required ventilation through a breathing tube.

Due to her high fever and infection, she developed a thrombosis in one of the main veins that drains away from the brain. Amber’s condition was still critical. Her parents remained at her side while doctors and staff worked non-stop to improve Amber’s condition.

Slowly, Amber began to improve. Her fever broke and she had her breathing tube removed. She was discharged from critical care and allowed to return to her hospital room where she focused on healing and physiotherapy. Several months later, the part of her skull that was removed to save her life was re-inserted.

Amber does not remember her entire ordeal but she remembers the healing process and the amazing staff at the Hospital who helped her recover. Today, Amber is back home but continues to make the long drive to Toronto for regular check-ups.

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