Sheila Redington
Costa preschool teacher critical
Redington in medically induced coma with bacterial meningitis
Friday, April 21, 2006
GALESBURG - A Costa Catholic School preschool teacher diagnosed with bacterial meningitis remained in critical condition and in a medically induced coma this morning at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.Sheila Redington, 44, of Galesburg began to feel flu-like symptoms while working Monday at Costa and by Wednesday her symptoms had reached critical levels, according to her family.
She first went to Cottage Hospital and later was transferred to Peoria, her husband Tim Redington said from the hospital this morning. He said his wife has a feeding tube and is on a ventilator and there is no word on how long she will stay in a medically induced coma.
"Before they put her on the ventilator, she was grimacing in pain," he said, noting that his wife's condition was more stable Thursday night than it was Wednesday night.
The Redington family has set up a Web page at www.caringbridge.org/visit/sheilaredington that provides frequent updates on Sheila's condition.
"Sheila seems to have had a good night," Tim Redington wrote on the Web page this morning. "Her fever has come down to 102 and she is digesting the food she is getting."
Tim also thanked people for their support, writing "I know Sheila has touched so many lives in such a good way and I realize everyone is touching her back right now. God bless you all for your support."
He said this morning that the family has been printing entries from the Web site's guestbook and reading them to Sheila, and that she has been nodding and opening her eyes in response.
Costa Catholic School held a rosary service at 7:30 a.m. today, which was open to students, staff, faculty, parents and the community, according to principal Carolyn Koos.
The preschool reopened this morning after a thorough cleaning, which included the release of anti-bacterial bombs and the full sterilization of classroom materials.
"We cleaned every block, every piece of paper," Koos said.
Koos would not refer to the preschool teacher by name, stating she did not have permission from the family to discuss her identity, but she said the teacher has been at Costa since 2004.
"She is so bubbly and so dedicated," Koos said. "She has been a wonderful, wonderful addition to our school."
While the preschool was closed Thursday, Koos said attendance in the rest of the school was near 100 percent, and she feels parents' fears have been allayed by the school's handling of the situation and by the information provided by the Knox County Health Department.
The school and the health department have recommended that all Costa preschool students receive preventive antibiotic treatment.
Redington is the head cheerleading coach at Galesburg High School, where Tim Redington is head boys soccer coach, Galesburg District 205 officials confirmed this morning.
Joel Estes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for District 205, said Redington has had no recent contact with high school students and there is no suspicion of bacterial meningitis at the high school.
"We're very concerned for her and her family," he said.
The couple has four children, ranging in age from six to 22.
It's still unclear how Redington contracted the disease, but none of her children or her husband have shown any symptoms. All are taking antibiotics as a precaution.
Severe facial swelling, fever and a purple rash that covers her entire body are some of the meningitis symptoms Redington is displaying.
An entry to the Web page Thursday night said that Shavonne Redington brought a picture of her parents to hang in the hospital room, so the doctors and nurses could see what her mother looks like without the symptoms.
"Several of the nurses were in tears when they saw how pretty she is and they can't wait to see her looking like herself again," the entry said.
Kevin Sampier of Copley News Service contributed to this report.
