Harry Hilton age #
KAWASAKI DISEASE
One evening after dinner, Mike and Erin Hilton
came home to find their nine-week-old son Harry
with a high fever. They immediately took him to
a nearby hospital and were referred to Kentucky
Children’s Hospital where, within 12 hours of their arrival, he was diagnosed with
a rare autoimmune disease in which the medium-sized blood vessels throughout
the body become inflamed, called Kawasaki Disease. It is largely seen in children
less than five years of age and affects many organ systems - mainly those
including the blood vessels, skin, mucous membranes, and lymph nodes. It’s
rarest, but most serious, effect is on the heart where it can cause fatal coronary
artery aneurysms in untreated children.
Normally, once a patient is diagnosed and treated for Kawasaki Disease, it never
appears again, but Harry’s case was unusual. He actually relapsed twice after
his initial treatment. For years after his diagnosis, his parents were incredibly
cautious and feared that he would contract the disease again. Today when the
doctors look at scans of Harry’s heart, they see no signs that there was ever a
bubble in the wall of his artery. With the help of Kentucky Children’s Hospital,
Harry is able today to be the kind, curious, and compassionate kid he is that
loves superheroes and music.
CONSTRUCTION GROUP