Elizabeth Thornburgh, 31, brings her daughter, Violet, 16 months, to work with her at the Chattanooga Autism Center on McCallie. Violet was diagnosed with a rare disorder, Kawasaki’s Disease, last Christmas.READ MORE
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Violet Thornburgh
Elizabeth and Rick Thornburgh had finished wrapping the presents and placed them under the tree: a homemade blanket, trains and books for her 4-year-old son, Nick; and a little lamb bed and a Leapfrog baby laptop for her 4-month-old daughter, Violet.
In 2012, the family was going to spend a quiet Christmas at home, then travel to Mississippi.
But the week before Christmas, Violet’s temperature began rising. Her parents guessed it could be a cold. But it was strange: The fever persisted alone: no cough, no swelling.
Her pediatrician performed several tests and agreed that it must be the common cold — but told Thornburgh to return if things didn’t improve.