Oakleigh Ryan Nance, an Oklahoma infant born prematurely at three pounds, faces serious kidney and heart conditions as well as recurring bacterial infections. After spending time in neonatal intensive care, Oakleigh appeared healthy for several months. She later developed a high fever and a severe urinary tract infection, followed by repeated infections and hospitalizations.

Testing revealed stage 3 kidney reflux, a condition in which urine flows backward toward the kidney. Her left kidney, described as two kidneys with separate ureters, has 22% function. Doctors scheduled a roughly four-and-a-half-hour operation to correct the reflux, shorten the ureters and remove a pocket on the outside of the kidney, with the aim of preventing future infections. Tests also revealed moderate atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis; her family planned to consult a cardiologist after she recovered from surgery.

One of Oakleigh’s infections involved an antibiotic-resistant strain of Pseudomonas. The bacterium can cause minor conditions such as swimmer’s ear or hot-tub rash, but it can also cause severe infections in people who are ill or weakened, particularly in hospital settings. It can enter through wounds, catheters or other medical equipment, and infections may be difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance.

A later report said the 11-month-old had been hospitalized with a serious, 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 doctors had limited antibiotic options and the family hoped she would recover in time for kidney surgery scheduled for the second week of August. The family has drawn strength from its faith and sought donations to help cover her medical expenses.