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Family looking forward to celebrating their sons first birthday received some terrifying news instead!

On that day Jackie Hansberger experienced the scare of lifetime when her baby became critically ill and could not even hold his head up, reports Daily Mail.

She rushed Cole to an emergency room near their home in Peoria.

He has since been diagnosed with botulism and has stayed in the intensive care unit for the past 11 days.

‘Cole is an amazing child with eyes that could light up a room and a personality to match,’ Cole’s father Robert wrote on a Gofundme page that was set up to help with the family’s medical bills.

cole

‘Unfortunately as I write this he lays in the pediatric intensive care unit on life support with a feeding tube down his throat,’ Robert said, adding that he did not think he had ever cried as much as he has recently.

Jackie told the Arizona Republic yesterday that she has not been home once since her son was admitted to the hospital and she sits by his bedside all day.

Her husband is staying home with their four-year-old son.

‘Everyday I sit, stare at the monitor all day, just to make sure my son’s breathing and he’s okay,’ she said.

Jackie added: ‘Sometimes you get frustrated with your children but I would pay a million dollars just to hear my son cry right now. I haven’t held him in over a week.’

Jackie first noticed that something with wrong with Cole the day before his first birthday, August 5, when his head started drooping.

At 5pm that evening, he became unable to crawl and at 3am on his birthday, his horrified mother noticed that he could not even sit up.

Botulism is a rare condition

The disease is caused by consuming bacteria spores that can come from dirt, soil and some foods.

Washing produce reduces the chances of getting botulism.

A classic symptom – which Cole experienced – is muscle weakness and botulism can eventually lead to paralysis.

Cole’s doctor told the Arizona Republic parents need to be aware of botulism’s symptoms so they know to seek medical attention immediately should they recognize them.

He said that Cole is on a ventilator and has little movement in his arms and legs.

Cole will have to remain in the ICU for another week and he will have to have physical therapy to relearn muscle memory after that, which could take months.

A day ago, Cole’s father updated his Gofundme page and wrote that his son has a collapsed lung.

He said Cole stopped breathing yesterday and doctors had to resuscitate.

‘It the most terrifying thing I had to see as a father and I’m having trouble keeping it together,’ he said. ‘Please continue to pray for our little man.’

We wish little Cole a speedy recovery. Such a precious little man.

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Image via gofundme

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  • i hope that this child is doing a lot better now. Is there any update on his condition? this must be a rare thing to happen? i have no idea

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  • Best wishes for his recovery.
    Cute baby, I believe that this angel will be better

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  • What a nasty disease, hope he gets better.

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  • Thank goodness its a rare condition. Lets hope it gets even rarer as time goes on.

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  • Fingers crossed he has many, many birthdays and none of them involve hospitals,

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  • Poor child that is sad

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  • Enormously difficult for the whole family. Best wishes for his recovery.

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  • what a first bitthday. get well soon

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  • wow how full on. Tha ks for sharing.

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  • What a scary experience !
    Hope and pray Cole recovers well and soon !

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  • What a awful thing to watch your baby go through.

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  • Given that apparently honey from some countries can contain botulism maybe the Govt. should announce a list of foods and sources that are most risky.

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  • Sending love, positive thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery. xx

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  • Hoping all goes well and no lasting problems from this. It is hard having to sit by knowing you can not really do anything but be there for your little darling.

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  • Wishing you the best Cole for a healthly future.

    Reply

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