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SH teen’s illness baffles doctors

The case of a Sweet Home seventh-grader, who has been hospitalized for three weeks as of Tuesday after suffering from a seizure, is baffling doctors.

Suffering from a headache, Sadi Riggs went to see a doctor, said Rod Holman, who is boyfriend to her mother, Debi Riggs.

Sadi, 13, was given medication and went home. Then she went into a seizure. They immediately took her to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital where she stayed until about 8 or 9 a.m. the next morning.

The hospital was unable to get the seizure stopped, Holman said, so Doernbecher Children’s Hospital sent a Panda team to transport her to Doernbecher. The team is a group of registered nurses and respiratory therapists supervised by a physician dedicated to transporting pediatric patients.

At Doernbecher, Riggs was placed in a medically induced coma for four to five days.

“Even the doctors call her their mystery girl,” Holman said. The aftermath is similar to a stroke, affecting her left arm and side, but doctors have ruled out a stroke.

Doctors are hoping to have Riggs in rehabilitation in two or three weeks and get the left side of her body working properly again, Holman said Monday. “She took a step back yesterday. She’s doing better today.”

Riggs has been surrounded by her family constantly, including her mother; grandmother Mary Hand; family friend Janet McLain; sister, Bayli Riggs; Holman; and father Mike Riggs.

The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District raised $1,851 at a car wash held on April 17 for the family.

Most of the medical costs are covered by insurance, Holman said, but they do have deductibles plus expenses, including food, fuel and hotel rooms, while family members and friends are missing work.

Anyone interested in donating to the family may contact the fire department at 367-5882, said Holman, who is a volunteer firefighter.

Riggs is on the Junior High dance team, and she also plays softball.

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