Graiden Marshmon's mother Da'Raille Marshmon says before he was diagnosed with MultiSystem Inflammatory Syndrome, a serious illness linked to COVID-19, he used to be energetic and run around his home.
>> HOW DUKE UNIVERSITY IS CRACKING DOWN ON FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF COVID-19 PROTOCOL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I'M GERALD OWENS. >> I'M DEBRA MORGAN. A NORTH CAROLINA MOTHER REACHED OUT EXCLUSIVELY TO WRAL, TO SHARE HER TODDLER'S HEARTBREAKING BATTLE WITH A RARE CONDITION, MISC, A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ILLNESS IN CHILDREN LINKED TO COVID-19. KIRSTEN GUTIERREZ JOINS US NOW WITH HER MESSAGE TO OTHER PARENTS. KIERSTEN. >> Reporter: DEBORAH, THE TODDLER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS BRADEN MARCHMAN, HE IS TWO YEARS OLD.'S MOTHER TOLD US THAT BEFORE HE WAS DIAGNOSED HE USED TO RUN AROUND THE HOUSE, HAVE PLENTY OF ENERGY BUT ONCE HE GOT RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, HAS BEEN CARRIED EVERYWHERE. AND IS CLEARLY NOT HIMSELF. >> WAS MY BABY GOING TO MAKE IT? >> Reporter: A TERRIFYING QUESTION, MARCHMAN ASKED HERSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN AFTER HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON WAS I MISDIAGNOSED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. STOMACH PAINS, FEVER OF 103, NOT EATING OR DRINK ANYTHING, AND HAD A RASH FORMING ALL OVER HIS BODY. >> I WENT TO PICK HIM UP AND HE SAID OUT, YOU'RE HURTING ME. AT THAT POINT, I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, IT IS TIME TO GO BACK TO THE E.R. >> Reporter: AFTER THE THIRD TRIP TO THE E.R., BRADEN WAS FINALLY ADMITTED AT CAPE FEAR VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER IN FAYETTEVILLE FOR ALMOST A WEEK. FOR EVERYTHING FROM AN EAR INFECTION TO KAWASAKI DISEASE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE DOCTORS ASKED IF THE FAMILY HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 THAT THE SUN GOT TREATMENT HE NEEDED. ASIDE FROM BRADEN, THE FAMILY TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS EARLY LAST MONTH. >> I DID NOT KNOW IF HE WOULD MAKE IT. >> Reporter: SHE TELLS US HER SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN, OR MISD. SOME SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FEVER'S LASTING SEVERAL DAYS, IRRITABILITY, ABDOMINAL PAIN, A RASH, SWOLLEN HANDS AND FEET. IN OUR STATE, THERE HAVE BEEN 88 CASES OF MISD SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. ALTHOUGH IT IS GENERALLY RARE, EXPERTS TELL US THE CONDITION IS CONCERNING BECAUSE CHILDREN'S AND ADOLESCENTS CAN APPEAR FINE AND QUICKLY BECOME ILL. THEY ALSO DON'T KNOW THE LONG- TERM EFFECT IT CAN HAVE ON THE HEART. A FEAR WHICH IS VERY REAL FOR THE MARCHMAN FAMILY. >> WATCHING MY BABY LAYUP THERE AND FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE IS VERY SERIOUS. DON'T TAKE IT FOR A JOKE. LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN. >> Reporter: EXPERTS HERE AT UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN RALEIGH TELL US THEY HAVE SEEN AROUND TWO DOZEN CASES. PARENTS SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS TYPICALLY SHOW UP 2 TO 6 WEEKS AFTER THAT EXPOSURE. DEBORAH?
