Oakleigh Ryan Nance, an 11-month-old Oklahoma infant born prematurely at three pounds, faces serious kidney and heart conditions along with recurring bacterial infections. After spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit, she appeared healthy for about six months before developing a high fever and a severe urinary tract infection that likely reached her kidneys. Although antibiotics initially reduced the fever, infections returned over the following months, leading to further hospital treatment and testing.

Doctors diagnosed Oakleigh with stage 3 kidney reflux. Her left kidney, described as having two kidneys and two ureters, has only 22% functionality. A roughly four-and-a-half-hour surgery is planned to correct the reflux, shorten the ureters and remove a pocket on the outside of the kidney, with the goal of preventing future infections. Her family said the procedure was scheduled for the second week in August. Hospital tests also revealed moderate atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis; after she recovers from kidney surgery, she is expected to see a cardiologist about further testing.

One of Oakleigh’s infections involved an antibiotic-resistant strain of *Pseudomonas*. These bacteria are common and may cause minor ailments in healthy people, but they can cause severe infections in people weakened by illness or treatment. They can spread in hospitals through equipment and other sources, enter the body through wounds or catheters, and are often difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance. Symptoms vary by the site of infection, while a serious bloodstream infection can cause fever, chills, confusion and shock.

A separate report says Oakleigh was diagnosed with a critical, antibiotic-resistant strain of *E. coli*. Her family did not know how she contracted it, and the CDC was investigating. Her grandfather, Chris Curtis, said her previous exposure to many antibiotics had left doctors with fewer treatment options. The family hoped she would overcome the infection before surgery and was raising money for medical expenses through GoFundMe. They described Oakleigh as spirited and said their faith and the support of loved ones were helping them through her illness.