Tulsa Boy Receives Award After Surviving Rare Post COVID-19 Syndrome

Tulsa Doctors are learning more about a rare post-COVID-19 condition called MIS-C or Multisystem inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

A family whose son was one of St. Francis hospital's first and more severe cases is sharing a message of hope after Finn was named the 2022 Children's Miracle Network Champion on Sunday.

Finn Fouch was wearing a shirt that said 'I can do all things' when his condition went from bad, to worse.

"It's all chopped in half. It's all cut up. We'll probably put it in a frame. I have a shadow box to put it in. Just haven't yet. You know, you just never know when you might go through the hardest thing you'll ever have to go through. That was prophetic. He was wearing a prophet. Thank God he was wearing that shirt man," said his mother Ashley Fouch.

Finn was rushed to the hospital and quickly moved to the Pediatric ICU.

"I was weak," said Finn Fouch.

He began to hallucinate as his lungs filled with fluid and began to collapse.

“She said, 'We don't have time. We need you to help us get him prepped. Get him comfortable. We need to start the process of getting him on a ventilator now,'" said Ashley.

"We almost felt like this is giving our son the opportunity to rest and his body to heal," said Rob.

Ashley, and Rob, said they were faced with a parent’s worst nightmare: they might outlive their baby boy.

They said all they could do was pray.

Rob believes even when you feel weak you must hold on to hope.

"We can't work on him medically, but we can stand in faith with him. We had faith in God, and we had faith in the doctors," said Rob.

They were in fighting mode and said it helped to have a medical staff that fought the same way.

"Like, can I touch him? Can I kiss on him? They were like 'He can hear, he can hear you, so whatever you want to say to him you speak to him, you kiss on him, you hold his hand.' And so, I just made sure to constantly be doing that," said Ashley.

There were so many unknowns, but the Fouch family focused on winning one battle at a time.

Finn had contracted COVID-19, but his parents never knew until he developed MIS-C or Multiple inflammatory Syndromes in children affecting every vital organ in his body.

Dr. Roopa Thukaram is the PICU Medical Director at Saint Francis.

She said MIS-C includes a broad collection of symptoms.

"Such as persistent high fevers for 3 to 5 days. Swelling of hands and feet. Rash. Red eyes and red swollen tongue," said Roopa Thukaram.

Dr. Tukaram said most kids test positive for covid-19 and this is how their immune system tries to fight it off – even weeks later.

Finn had developed a fever in early 2021.

It started low but got progressively worse, sticking around for 7 days.

Ashley said Finn’s eyes grew bloodshot when she noticed a rash all over his skin.

They immediately took Finn to his pediatrician and made a call to Saint Francis to make room for Finn.

"I remember saying, 'I will live and not die' at lot,'" said Finn.

Nobody could visit but they still showed up. They said every text message, gift card and prayer gave them the strength to press forward.

People gathered in the parking lot to pray, including Finn’s Jenks football team.

Then, things began to turn around.

"I had a chart where like every time I would like eat 3 meals a day or drink 3 glasses of water, walk around the PICU 3 times, I'd get like a sticker. And if I got all the sticker things slot filled, I'd get like a toy," said Finn.

He even got some messages from a few NFL players.

"It's almost like we have been prepping for this our whole lives," said Rob.

"It almost makes you angry more or less," said Ashley.

"Oh no we are going to win this. There's no way that this is going to happen to our child. We're coming out victorious in this," said Ashley.

"You leave with the resolve of, you know, there are so many other people going through this and you just... now I'm gonna fight for them," said Rob.

Dr. Tukaram said as recently as February, the CDC reported more than 6,850 cases and roughly 59 deaths in children.

She said no child is just another patient and each parent becomes a part of the team.

"I always tell my families; we are not God. God gives us the knowledge, the capability to treat our critically ill children so we always pray for our children and God is the ultimate healer. We're all there as his messengers to help their children," said Dr. Tukaram.

She says they use several treatments including IV hydration, monitoring hydration and fevers, and medications such as IV steroids, immunoglobulin infusions, and blood thinners.

Finn came off the ventilator after only 36 hours

"I was in the ICU when Finn came off the ventilator support, and even though he was tired, as soon as we took the breathing tube out, when I asked him can you give me a good cough, he coughed, and he had a twinkle in his eyes and right there we knew he was motivated to get better," said Dr. Tukaram.

"This was the best-case scenario for the worst for the worst-case situation," said Rob.

Finn’s parents kept a bible with him and every time someone sent them a verse that had to do with healing, they highlighted it.

Ashley and Rob have sense given that list to dozens of people.

"We tell people 'man these are battle-tested scriptures'," said Rob. "I will live and not die. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Everything I put my hands through prospers. The gates of hell will not prevail against me."

Finn’s doctors said he is a living, breathing miracle because of how sick he was and how quickly he recovered.

"Parents tell me, the meaning of Finn is a fair-haired warrior. And he was a true warrior. Lots of courage. Motivated. Very effervescent child," said Dr. Tukaram.

But even after he went home, Finn didn't go to school for months.

"I'm bulletproof now. I'm like, ah, these scriptures work. I'm like I'll pray for everybody," said Rob. "Now we're just looking for a fight, picking fights now. I'm telling you what. We left the ICU and we said 'We're taking kids with us. We don't want any kids in the ICU. We don't want any more kids there."

They said today, Finn’s stronger than ever and tell us he’s successful on the field and in school.

The Fouch family is encouraging people to pay attention to any signs and jump on them, seek help and overcome it.

"Just feel like the whole world is going through all of this right now and they just need people that can be strong and get through it and let them know you can get through it. You can do it. There is hope around the corner. Just keep going. Hang in there. Hook up with the right people. They're people out there that are trained to get you through the worst-case scenario. Don't be afraid to get through what you're going through. You can do it," said Rob.

Because Finn was one of first the MIS-C cases in Tulsa, the Fouch family said they now get calls from people all over asking advice.

Ashley said her son has since developed COVID-19 again and was just fine.

Most recently, Finn was selected to be Saint Francis’ 2022 Children’s Miracle Network representing the thousands of kids treated at their hospital.

"Finn's strength, courage and resilience keep us going. It's very motivating and that's what makes him so special is his inner strength and resilience and his great support from family," said Dr. Tukaram.

"We just want everyone to know, it's not just our victory. It's everybody's victory and so, we're letting everybody know your prayers worked. Keep fighting. Keep going. Keep fighting," said Rob.

The fight may be over for Finn but sometimes the Fouch family still fights back tears.

"He's strong," said Ashley.

Finn’s advice to other kids like him is, "To not give up. Just keep fighting."