11-year-old Oliver Shultz is recovering at home after two weeks of stress and fear. It began with an ache in his back, followed by a fever. Soon, the family was taking Oliver to the hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19. His symptoms worsened, and he ended up in the emergency room with a diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
About Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
According to the CDC, MIS-C is a rare condition that is characterized by inflammation throughout the body. It can impact the heart, skin, lungs, eyes, brain, gastrointestinal organs, and kidneys. It results in:
- Neck pain
- Diarrhea
- Gut pain
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Bloodshot eyes
- Rash
The cause of this condition is unknown, but it has recently been linked to COVID-19. Only children have had MIS-C, but there have been reported cases of adults with a similar multisystem inflammatory disorder (MIS-A).
Oliver’s Story
Oliver’s symptoms started with a backache and fever, which led his mother, Aimee, to take him to the hospital for a COVID-19 test. The effects of the virus only worsened from there, causing Aimee to make multiple trips to the hospital.
The 11-year-old compared his experience with the virus to having “every single sickness at once.” His eyes turned red from broken blood vessels, a rash appeared, his hands turned red, and his feet went blue. It got to the point where Oliver told his mother that he thought he might die.
In the emergency room, doctors were thankful that Oliver came in when he did. One more hour, they said, and he might not have made it. Immediately, he was taken to the ICU. There, he was diagnosed with MIS-C.
After some time in the hospital, Oliver was discharged and allowed to recover at home. It will be a long process, as he now has three heart conditions due to myocarditis. His organs have to heal, and he cannot be exposed to germs.
All that Oliver wants is to be able to ride his horse, G.W., again. He said that he doesn’t feel the same without riding. For now, he is thankful that he can go outside for a breath of fresh air.
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