Friday, February 17, 2006

Every Mother's Worst Fear....

One of them anyway.
I'm not going to dress it up or drag it out.

I shouldn't have used the word "fever" so lightly the other day.
I got a call in work today that my daughter spiked a fever , had a febrile seizure - and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital.

I hung up with my sitter after finding out that she was warm, and seemed to have her stomach bothering her. I said, "no worries - I'll leave work now. Could you do me a favor and run a lukewarm bath to try to get her fever down a bit - I'll be right home". She didn't seem so feverish that I wanted her to take a temperature reading; just counteract and try to make her comfortable. Sometimes a bath just makes her feel good in general. My sitter was going to give her Motrin also. Well, according to the timestamp on her phone - she had to call 911 no more than 2 minutes after we hung up. Two minutes! My daughter went from being warm - to having a seizure in that short span of time.

And while I know from all my reading that febrile seizures aren't as damaging as they are frightening - my heart flew to my stomach and I couldn't get to the hospital fast enough. I only told a few people in work as I left - and of course word spread. It was nice to have my friends calling me on my way to the hospital to make sure that I was okay and clear headed enough to get there okay. And of course - the follow up phone calls as well. It's really nice when people show they are concerned for you and your family.

I'm not going to describe what it was like to walk in and see her....you can imagine. I mean, I didn't cry or anything like that - but to see your child in a listless state is not a pleasant sight. I walked in, took her - and she didn't leave my arms again until I had to drive home. My sitter stayed with me the whole time - and sat with her in her lap for the drive home. Since they went by ambulance, there was no car seat. My daughter's fever never went any higher than 101.9 which I thought was low for a seizure. The doctor explained that it's a myth that high fevers cause seizures; this isn't to say that they can't - but a seizure is triggered the rate of speed the spike happens, not necessarily the degree to which it peaks. So, she spiked from normal to say - 102 in a period of time which her body couldn't process properly - hence the seizure.

My sitter, was a godsend. Not only did she do everything right- but she remained calm, and kept my son calm and prepared for the arrival of the ambulance and fire department. And as I said - she stayed with me the whole time. While my son didn't see the seizure or truly know the extent of what was going on - he was protective of his sister in his own way at the hospital. Holding her hand....he didn't want her to sleep at all, he was afraid we wouldn't be able to wake her - so he kept trying to keep her awake. Of course, she needed sleep - so my husband and he went home shortly after she was stabilized, while my sitter and I stayed while they ran tests to see if she had any specific virus that she may be testing positive for.

She's asleep now; and I'm waiting to give her another dose of Motrin so that she doesn't spike in her sleep.
This, was not one of the better days we've had around here.

But I can tell you this....by the time we left and came home - she was happy, and singing and smiling and eating.
This is just one of the lifetime of events that as a Mom, I have to look forward to.
It's worth it.

17 comments:

Cheryl said...

How scared you must have been! It sounds like everyone involved from sitter to you and the kids handled everything well. Thank God your beatiful girl is okay.

chesneygirl said...

Oh Rebecca, how terrifying!!!

But I'm SO glad everything is okay now. And thanks so much for the info on the fever/seizures. I did not know any of that!

Hope the rest of your weekend is a little less.....eventful!

Alison Rose said...

Oh, Rebecca! I'm so glad this story had a happy ending--it can be scary being a parent!

Gary said...

Oh My God, that must have been scary. I hope she is much better now.

BTW, I just discovered your blog and I like it. You write very well.

Michelle said...

OMG! Rebecca! I, for one, know exactly how you felt. There have been numerous incidents with Drew in the beginning and it really throws your heart for a loop.

I'm so glad to hear that she is okay. Hugs to the Mommy, I'm sure it was harder on you that it was on her.

Keep us posted. HUGS!

Mellissa said...

Hi Rebecca,

I am sooo sorry that this happened to your babygirl!!!

Will you give us an update on how she is feeling today?

Mel

Big Ben said...

Well I'm glad everyone is alright now. Luckily you have a competent sitter.

clew said...

OMG Rebecca! I'm so sorry you ll had to go through this. Incrediboy has not had a febrile siezure (knock on wood) but he had bronchitis about this time last year, so bad that he threw up everything from the coughing. He became very dehydrated and we almost had to hospitalize him. I had to give him a syringe of pedialyte every 10 minutes around the clock for like 3 days ... The dehydration just sucked the spark right out of him and it was torture for Daddy and me to see him so ill ...

Nothing worse than being helpless as your child is sick. It's behind you now but let me give you a retrospective cyberhug ~ (((Rebecca)))

Keep us updated on your little baby! Hope she's back to normal now!

clew said...

ll = all, btw. :/

*** said...

Wow, I would be scared to death and probably completely lose it. Good job to both your sitter and to you for handling it so well.

Rebecca said...

Hey all -
Thanks so much for your kind words. :)

Turns out she has Roseola, which actually - 10% of the kids that come down with it, will have a febrile seizure. I guess the spike is incredibly fast, and some little kids just have a difficult time with it. Today was the first day she was happy and smiling - albeit spotty. :)

Gary - thanks for coming by - glad you like it here! :)

Truly - I appreciate all the well wishes, and I'm happy to say she's feeling better today. :)

Lori said...

That is so scary. I remember a similar time when my son had a 105 temp and being at the hospital. There is nothing worse than having a sick or hurt child.
I'm so glad that she is feeling better!

I stopped in the lunchroom at school today to check in on my daughter. She was coughing this morning and felt warm last night. She's 16 1/2.
It doesn't get any easier. But you're right, they're always worth it.

Cheryl said...

Rebecca- My Boy had Roseola when he was just over 2. He was SO sick! Your poor little girl.

Susan said...

Oy vey! I'm glad she's okay and I hope I'm half the aunt your sister is to my new niece or newphew!

Nunzia said...

OMG that must have been so horrible for you!! I'm so glad she is OK.

Michelle said...

Thanks for the update. I've been thinking about you. I thought maybe you were going to say she had scarlet fever or something. I would have never guessed roseola could have caused that. Take care.

ramblin' girl said...

oh, so scary. I'm so glad she's ok!!