Nate's Anatomy

I can't think of anything that makes me feel as helpless as when Nathan is sick. More so because he can't describe how he's feeling and I can only hope he knows Mom and Dad are trying to comfort him. Given he spends five days a week in day care, and Jeff and I are both in education, as well, it's no surprise that we have all had our share of winter blahs this year. And whenever Nathan needs to stay home, Jeff is generous enough to stay home first.

Here Nathan looks pale and tired at the start of his illness.

So, when Nathan woke up with what appeared to be pink eye two weeks ago, it was a split-second decision that Jeff would stay home, I would email the doctor and by the time I returned from work, he would be on the mend. Only, he wasn't. And it wasn't just pink eye. Nathan had a fever over 100 degrees and was lethargic. He was breathing fast and shallow, like panting. Jeff took him to the local urgent care where he was diagnosed with an ear infection and sent home with super supply of amoxicillin.

Two days later, Nathan was still feverish, still lethargic, still breathing rapidly and showing no improvement. The helpless feeling was growing. It was my turn to stay home and we decided to schedule an appointment with his own pediatrician. Shortly after arriving and checking vitals, Dr. Chrissie could tell that Nate's heart rate was elevated and his oxygen level too low. She turned to me and as gently as possible said we should head to the nearby children's hospital for some fluids and oxygen.

My response: Done. Say no more. We're on our way!

Have I ever mentioned that I love hospitals?  I do! I feel such a sense of security being surrounded by the experts who have dedicated their lives to healing even the little guys like Nathan. So, when Dr. Chrissie suggested we head to a place full of people who would know exactly how to help my boy, that helpless feeling was lifted.

At arrival, Nathan was a quiet patient, letting the nurses attach him to a variety of monitoring equipment. It made his poor health more obvious as nurse after nurse would comment on how easy he was making their jobs. Sure enough, all were in agreement that Nathan needed oxygen and fluids, but more than standard dosages. Therefore, we would spend our first night in PICU. Hmmm...that helpless feeling came creeping back again. But, again, my confidence in the skills of the hospital staff assured me that if Nathan needed to be in PICU, then I was glad we were there.




Every few hours that night, Nathan received albuterol treatments intended to help clear the lungs. He woke several times after getting tangled in the wires that seemed attached to every part of his body. I tried to sleep on the fold out in the room, while Jeff went to a friend's house nearby. In the morning, the doctor was encouraged by Nate's improvement but did require a second night at the hospital, thankfully out of PICU.




Two days later, Nathan and I were both exhausted from sleep interrupted by nurse check-ins, alarms and monitoring equipment. He was showing remarkable improvement though we were warned his symptoms could take a month to clear entirely. The diagnosis? The notorious RSV and bronchilitis, which is baby bronchitis. Having already administered high doses of antibiotics through his IV, we were sent home to rest and recover.

A good nights rest in our own beds was definitely what all of us needed and Nathan steadily improved, even returning to school by Monday.

On the mend and enjoying pancake breakfast!