Hello all who have been praying for my sweet Salima! It’s been such a whirlwind since Salimas major repair surgery on Christmas Eve, she is the strongest girl I know! She’s had a lot of complications after surgery relating to profuse bleeding because she’s been on ECMO bypass life support and thus blood thinners, serious blood pressure problems, cardiac events and infection problems, being on dialysis now and more, but last night God showed us all that he is the God of miracles. He is the miracle worker, the promise keeper, the light in the darkness. Only through his love and mercy can her life be spared, only through his grace can she pull through. I have never begged God for anything in my life the way I have begged him for Salimas life. He is an amazing God!!! I will share more about his miracles in Salimas Journey soon. For the first time, I have hope, and that is huge! . ❤️

My sweet friend set up this PO Box for Salima to send cards, letters, etc. Salima will in the future love to read the loving prayerful words of those who thought about her during her hard time:
Salima Sulemana
PO Box 98
Statham Ga 30666

These have been specifically requested so I’ll include them, none were my idea and all I have been urged to include to provide options :
Cashapp: $angelicaph1
PayPal sent friends and family: $love4islam1@yahoo.com
Venmo and Zelle: 313-434-0800

I may not update myself after this, my friend for me. I do not have the words. I am so beyond emotionally and physically exhausted but wanted to share quickly for those praying for Salima. Yesterday her lungs failed her even on the ventilator, I watched my baby go down to 2% oxygen over and over for hours. Manually bag venting her was only getting her up to 20-50% oxygen and back down to single digits quickly. At many points she was going between single digits and teens only. It was devastating to watch. Salima had to be moved to ECMO bypass life support last night. ECMO takes the blood from her body through a large cannula, oxygenates and filters her blood and puts it back in. This takes over the job of the heart and lungs and is also very high risk and a last resort. She still has her ventilator in to assist with the small rare breaths she takes but for the most part she’s not able to breathe. Now she doesn’t have to work hard to breathe and her precious lungs can rest. She has severe pneumonia that wasn’t responding to antibiotics and has almost no air space in her lungs. She is now septic, so another strong antibiotic was added to combat the blood infection.

Her surgeon has decided that her trachealesophogeal fistula is so large and life threatening that surgery can’t wait, so she’s going under first thing in the morning even though she’s critically ill with pneumonia and sepsis which makes her high risk. The blood thinners she’s on for ECMO makes surgery high risk for bleeding out. Overall She is at risk of not surviving, but I have faith in God.

I’ve been on my knees crying out to God, and I BEG you all to do the same, that he may spare her precious life. We have been in the hospital for a month now, with a long road still ahead.

Before I say anything about Salima, all I want is for everyone to double check for disc/ button batteries in their homes. Please! I don’t want anyone to face this. Never throw old ones in the trash! Never buy toys that use them! I’m begging you to please tell everyone you know about disc/ button batteries!

I’m going to try to make this very simple. Salima has been on life support since Monday. I need everyone to pray hard, her little body is struggling. She Has severe bacterial aspiration pneumonia and awaiting being healthy enough to withstand major surgery to correct her tracheoesophageal fistula caused by the battery and right now she’s very critical. She’s been getting TPN nutrition to help her body heal and get through this. There are a lot of possibilities but we will see how she does. Right now her left lung is completely collapsed, there’s just a lot going on and so we wait for her to heal and get strong enough to handle major surgery. She will need multiple surgeries I'm told. She’s got an aggressive gram negative rod bacteria growing in her lungs she needs to fight hard, hoping it responds well to her IV antibiotics. She will also have to stay intubated after surgery also but we don’t yet know how long. I hate that my baby will still be in a coma for the holidays, it hurts. I miss her being conscious so much it aches.

Thank you all for the prayers, they have meant so much! I feel the love and prayers coming her way! She can do this!!

Hello all who’ve been praying for my Salima! I truly appreciate the prayers, they mean so much! I will include the WSB- TV story that aired on Salima and Trey for those who missed it in the comments. We as parents decided to do this together to raise awareness even though it felt uncomfortable to us both. Let me preface this by saying it feels weird sharing Salimas details publicly and I’m not sure how much longer and to what extent I will, I’ll have to play it by ear. My motivation in sharing is to raise awareness of what button batterie can do. I will share some link to other button battery injury kids for those interested. I hope that reading this it will hit home and parents really take this seriously, even for older children who can easily swallow one like Trey did, the 12 year old boy who’s on the same unit as Salima due to opening a remote with his teeth and swallowing a button battery. Treys mom shared his MRI showed great improvement and reduction in edema and he gets to start clear liquids by mouth! Very happy for him, he’s doing great!

I didn’t update about Salimas MRI yesterday because Salima has been struggling with pretty bad vitals and being watched closely. We spent all last night with people in and out of the room trying to help her and numerous tests. She spiked a high fever 104.9 and kept desating to 80’s and recovering over and over. We await blood cultures from her PICC line and veins and pray for no sepsis. She is currently not tolerating any tiny amount( 10 ml per hour) of continuous Gtube feeds and just vomits them nonstop and choking on mucus. It’s been rough and i haven’t slept much. She also holds her spit in her mouth and won’t swallow, it likely hurts her. Then she chokes on her spit she can’t swallow and it’s sad to watch 😞 she’s aspirating, concern for pneumonia, we will see. She has a repeat MRI in a week

Salimas MRI showed no aorta damage thank god! The damage extends right up to the aortic wall in the aortic arch. This is such a miracle that it’s leaning on her aortic arch yet hasn’t damaged it! I am SO amazed and blessed by this miracle. Things could have easily taken a tragic turn had it gone a millimeter further! Praise god! However, the damage to her esophagus is severe and is worse than they were expecting. They are not comfortable with her having even clear liquids and say it’s a waiting game as we face the possibilities of different dangerous scenarios as the damage begins to try and heal. We will see. Based on the updated MRI I was told to expect at least several more weeks in the hospital. We won’t be home for the holidays 😭

For those who have asked how they can contribute to Salima and our family during this crisis. These are the ONLY official links, please ignore any other posts you see as we have had people trying to scam and use her story. Saani and I have 3 children with glycogen storage disease, 6 total children. There are multiple families with the type of GSD they have with multiple children in the family affected. We are certainly not an isolated special case. He is managing their care to make sure they don’t also end up in the hospital and unable to work from home to the full extent he’s used to while I have to stay by Salimas side and unable to fulfill my role looking after all of the children.

These were specifically requested so I’ll include them, none were my idea and all I have been urged to include to provide options :
Cashapp: $angelicaph1
PayPal sent friends and family: $love4islam1@yahoo.com
Venmo and Zelle: 313-434-0800
Launchgood campaign that was so kindly set up for us, we switched from GFM to LG and all funds raised in GFM are now reflected in LG for transparency: https://www.launchgood.com/campaign/baby_salima_swallowed_2_button_batteries_and_is_fight_for_her_life?fbclid=IwAR2SI0I0bORPVzDjNq2MRkj3-ckIgVsMzDskm3A8-rJZtza0EbnSc-B_Xzo#!/
 
Where to send cards, letters, etc:
Salima Sulemana
PO Box 98
Statham Ga 30666

Some have asked for amazon wish list for Salima and one for her siblings who are at home struggling hard with big emotions about what’s happening to their baby sis, and without mom home and the holidays right around the corner.

Salinas wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MRRU1CPETT1H?ref_=wl_share

Salimas siblings holiday wish list(beyblade and Barbie stuff they all play together): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LOH4H3M0WFLQ?ref_=wl_share

Hello everyone,
I’m so happy to share that Salima has done so well today! I shared a personal video from me in the comments. She started off slow and swollen and as her breathing got better as the inflammation to her airway was helped by being off the ventilator and with medications, she was able to come off of oxygen, and has been snuggling a lot and playing with toys in my lap in between extra naps. She’s on various IV medications to keep blood infection at bay and so far it’s WORKING! 👏 I’ve been weeping seeing her look at me and get a few little smiles. I can’t stop kissing her.

She’s still in the PICU being watched closely for any sign of cardiac or respiratory decline as the inflammation from the batteries went right up next to her aortic wall and trachea. I believe SO strongly in the power of prayer. It is an absolute miracle that this is still not affecting her aorta, an absolute MIRACLE. 😭She’s not out of the woods yet for possible Aorta damage until the 7 day mark, which is Tuesday, so still a waiting game as we wait to see what path the battery erosion takes. The team plans to do a repeat MRI with contrast on Monday to see where the damage has spread then and what we can expect from there based on those findings.

I want to pour my heart out to each and every one of you who has prayed, cried, begged God for his mercy over her precious life, and donated to help support the tremendous financial burden, even those who have said they want to send a card from their kids to Salimas PO Box for her to save forever to always be reminded of the love and care showered upon her. It all means SO very much.

For those who have asked how they can contribute to Salima and our family during this crisis. These are the ONLY official links, please ignore any other posts you see as we have had people trying to scam and use her story. Saani and I have 3 children with glycogen storage disease, 6 total children and one additional close family child who’s been living with us during the pandemic so 6 children at home without me while Salima is inpatient. He is managing their care to make sure they don’t also end up in the hospital and missing a lot of work while I have to stay by Salimas side. We have both our vehicles needing repair to even function and he hasn’t been able to get at least one fixed yet so he can come back and forth to the hospital safely.

Meals sent during this difficult time as we grieve and pray and focus on what’s important are much appreciated as well as Gas cards are also much appreciated for help getting back and forth to the hospital over and hour away and the numerous medical appointments our 3 medically complex kids need and the additional specialist appointments in Salimas near future following this injury in addition to her established complex medical care needs.

Cashapp: $angelicaph1
PayPal sent friends and family: $love4islam1@yahoo.com
Venmo and Zelle: 313-434-0800
Launchgood campaign( we switched from GFM to LG and all funds raised in GFM are now reflected in LG for transparency:
 
Where to send cards, letters, gifts, etc:
Salima Sulemana
PO Box 98
Statham Ga 30666

Some have asked for amazon wish list for Salima and one for her siblings who are at home struggling hard with big emotions about what’s happening to their baby sis, and without mom home and the holidays right around the corner.
Salimas amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MRRU1CPETT1H?ref_=wl_share
Salimas siblings holiday wish list(beyblade and Barbie stuff they all play together): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LOH4H3M0WFLQ?ref_=wl_share

Hello everyone,
I’m so happy to share that Salima has done so well today! I shared a personal video from me in the comments. She started off slow and swollen and as her breathing got better as the inflammation to her airway was helped by being off the ventilator and with medications, she was able to come off of oxygen, and has been snuggling a lot and playing with toys in my lap in between extra naps. She’s on various IV medications to keep blood infection at bay and so far it’s WORKING! 👏 I’ve been weeping seeing her look at me and get a few little smiles. I can’t stop kissing her.

She’s still in the PICU being watched closely for any sign of cardiac or respiratory decline as the inflammation from the batteries went right up next to her aortic wall and trachea. I believe SO strongly in the power of prayer. It is an absolute miracle that this is still not affecting her aorta, an absolute MIRACLE. 😭She’s not out of the woods yet for possible Aorta damage until the 7 day mark, which is Tuesday, so still a waiting game as we wait to see what path the battery erosion takes. The team plans to do a repeat MRI with contrast on Monday to see where the damage has spread then and what we can expect from there based on those findings.

I want to pour my heart out to each and every one of you who has prayed, cried, begged God for his mercy over her precious life, and donated to help support the tremendous financial burden, even those who have said they want to send a card from their kids to Salimas PO Box for her to save forever to always be reminded of the love and care showered upon her. It all means SO very much.

For those who have asked how they can contribute to Salima and our family during this crisis. These are the ONLY official links, please ignore any other posts you see as we have had people trying to scam and use her story. Saani and I have 3 children with glycogen storage disease, 6 total children and one additional close family child who’s been living with us during the pandemic so 6 children at home without me while Salima is inpatient. He is managing their care to make sure they don’t also end up in the hospital and missing a lot of work while I have to stay by Salimas side. We have both our vehicles needing repair to even function and he hasn’t been able to get at least one fixed yet so he can come back and forth to the hospital safely.

Meals sent during this difficult time as we grieve and pray and focus on what’s important are much appreciated as well as Gas cards are also much appreciated for help getting back and forth to the hospital over and hour away and the numerous medical appointments our 3 medically complex kids need and the additional specialist appointments in Salimas near future following this injury in addition to her established complex medical care needs.

Where to send cards, letters, gifts, etc:
Salima Sulemana
PO Box 98
Statham Ga 30666

Some have asked for amazon wish list for Salima and one for her siblings who are at home struggling hard with big emotions about what’s happening to their baby sis, and without mom home and the holidays right around the corner. 

Salimas wish list:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MRRU1CPETT1H?ref_=wl_share

Salimas siblings holiday wish list(beyblade and Barbie stuff they all play together): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LOH4H3M0WFLQ?ref_=wl_share

Angelica isn’t able to post an update but she gave me permission to share. There is a new ICU team and the information they have shared with her is extremely concerning. The 3 day period she was given before is not the cutoff for aortic damage but rather the quickest they typically see damage. The ICU team has seen aortic damage and rupture up to a full week past the injury.

This new team is sharing more information with her as they have seen it personally and want her to know that Salima still has a significant risk of aortic damage. She was not able to go into any more detail at this time but she has shared in the past that if the battery acid reaches the aorta, she would begin to bleed out. Please, please continue to pray fervently that there is NO damage to Salima’s aorta. This is the biggest concern and I cannot imagine how hard it is to not be able to do anything but wait.

Angelica did share that Salima has had no more fever after meds so the hope is that there is no infection, so continue to pray for that as well.

Lastly, Salima is awake and beginning to fidget with toys but the hospital will only allow her to have one toy. If you would like to donate new or gently used toys for a 2 year old girl, please let me know. Angelica was able to get some things she needs immediately for herself but doesn’t have anything else for Salima there to play with. I am happy to coordinate pickup with those local (to Barrow county area) and deliver them to the hospital at one time as she isn’t able to leave Salima’s side right now. Please share & continue to pray!

*2 wonderful ladies provided a Thanksgiving meal for her children at home today, thank you both so much!

EVERYONE PLEASE , Salima needs prayers specifically for NO blood infection, the PICU doctor just woke me up at 3am to discuss with me her high fever. For those who don’t know her history, Salima went septic and landed in the PICU last year and spent 2 months inpatient following life threatening septic shock after her body was under stress due to her glycogen storage disease, after multiple specialist teams at CHOA as well as Cleveland Clinic glycogen storage disease team communicated across the country throwing everything at her for weeks on end with no success at stabilizing her.

The stress of the GSD had left her immunocompromised and she caught a very rare blood infection that infectious disease doctors believed originated from her own gut. So basically her body was so stressed from glycogen storage disease that bacteria infiltrated her gut into the bloodstream and led to septic shock. She almost lost her life then.

I was told when this began that she would be high risk for a blood infection/ sepsis due to the extensive esophagus damage and damage to surrounding tissues caused by the battery acid that could let bacteria into her bloodstream.
PLEASE IM BEGGING IN THE NAME OF GOD PRAY NO BLOOD INFECTION. Let this just be a fever in response to the trauma and inflammation, maybe it’s just that 😭😞 she IS and has been on an IV antibiotic since this whole thing began, I’m hoping that covers it, but likewise she was also on heavy duty IV antibiotics the last time she went septic which did nothing , we won’t know if that’s even doing anything. It’s a process to find the right match if in fact it is an infection.

They also had decided to extubate her shortly before discovering this fever as the acid hadn’t reached her trachea so her airway was stable and each passing day on a ventilator risks damage to lungs. She then began desating to 70’s oxygen repeatedly and had to be placed on oxygen. I hope this wasn’t the wrong move to remove the ventilator.

Sani Suleman

Update 11/25/2020 2pm

First let me clear up some confusion. I’m seeing people post that her heart is damaged and her Aorta and spine are damaged. No. The crisis is involving her Aorta because it’s extremely close to it and they worry the acid will seep into her Aorta, but it hasn’t yet. There is extensive damage to esophagus and surrounding tissues which they think should be able to heal over time. So the doctors have told me it’s a wait and see approach right now and they will repeat an MRI in a few days. Their biggest concern is that the acid/ inflammation could reach her Aorta which would be catastrophic and she would begin to bleed out. With each passing hour that her vitals are stable and she’s showing no signs of internal bleeding, I praise God. The first 3 days are the most critical for worry of it spreading to her Aorta. They continue to watch her super closely for signs of this happening .

She did get a PICC line today. She hears mamas voice and tries to grip my hand. She’s been hard to keep sedated and will wake up and try to fight her ventilator and they have to keep giving more meds. They have her restrained to keep her from pulling it out.

My heart is aching waiting to see how bad the damage will be, but I’m feeling so encouraged that she’s made it this far without the Aorta being damaged and bleeding out, it’s just extremely close to it.

I’m extremely grateful for the support during this life threatening situation.

For anyone asking for how to help ,
My cashapp is: $Angelicaph1
My PayPal is: love4islam1@yahoo.com( please send as friends and family so PayPal doesn’t take a fee)
Zelle and Venmo - 313-434-0800
Go fund me link:
 https://gf.me/u/y94vfc

Salima Jean Sulemana. That’s her name. Jean is the name of her great grandma. Salima is everything to me. She’s my world. Can you all look around your house for button batteries in items and secure them right away! Don’t wait until tomorrow. Don’t throw away old batteries in the trash like I did. A young sibling could dig them out. I changed batteries on her glucometer and ketone meter 2 days ago and threw them away. I didn’t imagine in a million years that throwing away old batteries would lead to this! Find a secure way to dispose of batteries and keep anything with a button battery secured away! I want everyone to know what a simple button battery can do. Moisture activates the battery if swallowed and it will release battery acid which can eat away at your child’s esophagus, eat through it and damage surrounding tissues and major arteries . 😞

Salima needs all the prayers please! I’m shaking. She just got out of emergency surgery to remove two small button batteries she swallowed and has extensive damage to her esophagus. She’s intubated and sedated on a ventilator and is waiting to get an MRI in a few hours to see the extent of the damage. I am so terrified and would appreciate all prayers! I never expected to be back in the ICU with her. She’s getting IV antibiotics also. This is a living nightmare and I’m heartbroken 😞😭