A Story of Courage, Advocacy, and a Little Boy Named Finn

At Kawasaki Kids Foundation, we talk often about education, awareness, and family support. But behind every statistic is a child. Behind every diagnosis is a family whose world changes in an instant.

Today we share the story of a brave little warrior named Finn. His journey is one that reminds us why early detection matters and why parents should always trust their instincts.

Finn’s Story

Early October 2023 our son had been dealing with a slight cold. We eventually went to the pediatrician because the cough just would not go away and we were told it was normal. On October 21st 2023 we had Finns cousins over to celebrate Halloween early but Finn was VERY lethargic. He developed a swollen lymphnode on his neck and we immediately became concerned. When tested for fever it was high and would not come down. The next day we noticed a rash developing all over his body. We immediately took him into quick care to run tests. We were there for about 2 to 3 hours waiting on results when the doctor told us to go to the ER because they had ran everything they possibly could and nothing is coming back. We had to stop at Walmart because the strep throat test made Finn vomit so we grabbed snacks and clothes and headed to the ER. We waited about 20 minutes before being ushered back to a room and then waited about an hour for a doctor and tests to be ran. The doctor came back several hours later and said nothing was showing up and it was just an infection possibly and sent us home with an amoxicillin prescription. We picked it up and immediately started dosage. We also made a circle around the rash to keep track if it grew or shrunk. From about 6pm until 9am we gave I think 3 or 4 doses and nothing worked. The rash was growing and worse and Finn wasn't any closer to being or feeling better.

We took him back to the ER and got the same doctor from the night before who was very annoyed we were back. They ran more tests and wanted to send us home and I absolutely refused. I told them until they figured it out we weren't going anywhere. The doctor was not happy with that and called our pediatrician afterwards. Within seconds we were planning for transport to the local children's hospital as our pediatrician immediately knew what it was and told the ER doctor to send us to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago immediately. That man saved my son's life right there. We were prepped for transport and they inserted an IV into my sons arm which took a few times. Then we were transported via BLS ambulance up to the children's hospital in an hour. My husband met us up there with all our stuff as we were told we could be there for a few days. Upon arrival we were met with 5 nurses who started poking and prodding and getting things set up. They were so wonderful and re inserted his IV since it was not done correctly the first few times. Finn was SO brave this whole time. He didn't cry once. He let the nurses do whatever they needed too. We were then seen by 5 infectious disease doctors the next day as we were starting treatment. They asked tons of questions. About our pets, travel plans, etc. We were run through how treatment works and what to look for if it isn't working. Thankfully treatment worked immediately. We were at the hospital for a whole week during treatment and recovery. We were discharged and give 2 months worth of followup dates we needed to come back for ECHOs. After we completed those it was a yearly checkup and we graduated from those in December 2024. We celebrated with a trip to Disneyland.

Current Condition

Finn is 4 now and has been doing fantastic. We have been cleared since December 2024 and had no other worries since. He is a happy, healthy toddler boy.

A Reminder to Every Parent

Finn’s story is powerful for so many reasons. It is about a little boy who showed incredible bravery. It is about nurses and specialists who stepped in with skill and compassion. It is about treatment that works when Kawasaki Disease is recognized in time.

But it is also about something else. It is about a parent who refused to leave the hospital without answers.

Awareness saves hearts. Advocacy saves lives.

Because one pediatrician recognized the signs and acted immediately, Finn received the treatment he needed. Because his parents trusted their gut, he was not sent home again without answers. Today he is thriving.

At Kawasaki Kids Foundation our mission is rooted in stories just like this. We are committed to education so families and medical professionals can recognize the signs sooner. We are committed to awareness so no child slips through the cracks. And we are committed to family support so no parent walks this road alone.

Finn is proof that early detection changes everything.

To every family reading this, trust your instincts. Ask questions. Push for answers. Your voice could be the reason your child gets the care they need in time.

And to Finn, our brave warrior, we celebrate your strength and your bright future ahead.