Westside 1st grader getting much better

By Sue Odegard

A local 7-year-old who was critically ill with a rare bacterial disease is scheduled to be released from Regions Hospital in St. Paul this week.

Tai Punches, daughter of Robert and Tammy Punches of River Falls, woke with a stomachache on Valentine's Day and other flu-like symptoms. This Saturday, her family has scheduled a welcome home party for the Westside Elementary School 1st grader.

"I asked her what she'd like when she gets out of the hospital," said Tai's mother, Tammy. "She wants to have a big 'welcome home party' and then go shopping."

Tai was diagnosed with meningococcemia, one of a few bacterial diseases that can kill an infected person within hours. Between 60 and 90% of the cases occur in children.

The bacteria invades the blood stream. An infected child may have flulike symptoms and a high fever, develop a purple rash and rapidly become unresponsive. Death can occur within hours of the onset.

The mortality rate for children with severe meningococcemia can be 30% or more. Among survivors, amputations of extremities or permanent neurological damage is frequent.

Tai has been hospitalized since Feb. 15, first at Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities, and then she was transferred to the burn unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She's been undergoing skin grafts to replace her infected skin.

Tammy said Friday the skin grafts are going very well. There is some scarring around Tai's eye, ear, stomach, arms and legs, but the family is optimistic the scars will fade with time.

"We were able to bring her home for Easter," Tammy said. "And she visited her classmates at school. Everyone has been very excited to see her."

The couple has an older daughter, Tia. They and Tai's grandparents, Frank and Gloria Schulte, Rich and Karen Hamilton and Erma Punches, and her great-grandparents Hagner and Linda Gunderson and Alma Eken are planning the welcome home party beginning at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 24, at the River Falls American Legion. The public is also invited to attend.

Music will be provided by "One Night Stand," beginning at 4 p.m. A pot luck meal is being served.

A fundraising auction is set for May 22, at 6 p.m., also at the River Falls American Legion. Ellsworth auctioneer Jack Hines is donating his services and matching funds of up to $750 are being provided by Lutheran Brotherhood, Pierce County Branch #8649.

For more information, call Judy Johnson at 425-8589, Janet Enloe at 425-1428, or Tara Hakes at 425-9625.

Those who can't attend either event can make a cash donation to a trust account that has been set up in Tai's name at the WESTconsin Credit Union, 1207 N. Main St. For more information on that, call Julie Moe at 425-8113.