OK, Luke once again was in the emergency room last Friday (twice in as many weeks). The emergency room doctor was actually a pediatrician. That actually helped.
She was very careful in checking him and making sure that they treated him with the right medication. Since September Luke has been having problems with asthma. I actually didn’t find out it was asthma till this time. He has a similar problem to Ben. He starts with a runny nose and ends up with labored breathing. Ben I can control, most of the time. And when I can’t a trip to the ER is just that- a trip to the ER. With Luke, however, a trip to the ER includes a ride in the ambulance and hospitalization. Friday night was no different.
After spending all night awake with Luke, being puked on after numerous coughing spells, and two unsuccessful breathing treatments Luke needed to be seeing by someone who could take the burden away from me and make him better. I had decided to wait till morning to take him in. The older kids needed to get to school, besides having them in school would be less stress for me. I was counting on returning home before school was out.
The hospital parking lot was completely full and I had to drive around for about 40 minutes before I finally decided to go ahead and park on the farthest spot I could possibly find. Walking in the cold air did not help his little lungs, but it had to be done. As I was walking to the ER I remember thinking how I wished Ryan was here to share this moment with me. I needed someone to remind me to put on my coat. Yes, I forgot to brag it as I left the house in the hurry. It was around 36 degrees outside.
The normal routine in the ER took place. Once we were called in there was no waiting. The staff is really careful with breathing and little ones. We were seeing the doctor within 5 minutes of arrival. At that point Luke was pretty bad. The doctor took a video of him to send it to another hospital to show another pediatrician and ask his opinion. The decision was made to transfer him to University Hospital as soon as he heard from the other doctor. Before the transport arrived, a breathing treatment was administered to him. It did nothing.
Here we go again. Luke in the ambulance, me following behind. I wish I could go with him in the ambulance, but being that I am alone I had to have my car available in case I could not find anyone to pick up the kids from school.
As we arrived at the University Hospital, I had to park and by the time I made it back to the hospital building Luke was already taken to the ICU. The ER staff would not tell me where he was before I registered him with the hospital, but I could not register him because the ICU did not call the registration staff back to let them know what room he was in. So, I waited and I got mad. I did let everyone I came across now that too. All they would say was: “I understand.”
Well, finally after nearly 2 hours I was back with Luke. He was asleep and apparently slept through the entire thing. Once we were established in the room he was to have a breathing treatment every hour until his breathing calmed down. Once it did, he would have a treatment every 3 hours.
I called my wonderful friend and she picked the boys up from school and kept them overnight. She brought me dinner and I was able to rest between vitals being checked and breathing treatments.
The bishop came to visit and I was comforted by his presence. He entered the room still in uniform. Luke loves a guy in uniform. I think it reminds him of his Daddo. I am so grateful to have such a caring and loving bishop. He played with Luke for a bit and made sure Luke had a couple of toys to play before he left to visit other who needed his presence as much as I did.
By morning Luke’s breathing was back to normal. The doctors wanted to keep observing him for a little longer , but if he continued to improve we would go home that day.
The Pulmonologist came to see us and told us that El Paso is not good for Luke. See, when it gets cold here the people across the border burns all sorts of things to keep warm. Those things, sometimes, are carcinogens that could potentially harm people. Luke suffers every time.
We were sent home that evening with some medication and a promise that I would not leave the house for a few days. The Pulmonologist wants to see him and treat him long term. I already go a follow up appointment to request a referral to see her.
Luke is doing much better, but still has a cough. We see the doctor on Wednesday to see his progress. He will be on permanent medication till we move away.
My hopes is that he will outgrow this difficulty the same way as Ben did. Ben hardly ever has trouble anymore. Till then, we keep trying. Thanks for all the prayers sent our way.
She was very careful in checking him and making sure that they treated him with the right medication. Since September Luke has been having problems with asthma. I actually didn’t find out it was asthma till this time. He has a similar problem to Ben. He starts with a runny nose and ends up with labored breathing. Ben I can control, most of the time. And when I can’t a trip to the ER is just that- a trip to the ER. With Luke, however, a trip to the ER includes a ride in the ambulance and hospitalization. Friday night was no different.
After spending all night awake with Luke, being puked on after numerous coughing spells, and two unsuccessful breathing treatments Luke needed to be seeing by someone who could take the burden away from me and make him better. I had decided to wait till morning to take him in. The older kids needed to get to school, besides having them in school would be less stress for me. I was counting on returning home before school was out.
The hospital parking lot was completely full and I had to drive around for about 40 minutes before I finally decided to go ahead and park on the farthest spot I could possibly find. Walking in the cold air did not help his little lungs, but it had to be done. As I was walking to the ER I remember thinking how I wished Ryan was here to share this moment with me. I needed someone to remind me to put on my coat. Yes, I forgot to brag it as I left the house in the hurry. It was around 36 degrees outside.
The normal routine in the ER took place. Once we were called in there was no waiting. The staff is really careful with breathing and little ones. We were seeing the doctor within 5 minutes of arrival. At that point Luke was pretty bad. The doctor took a video of him to send it to another hospital to show another pediatrician and ask his opinion. The decision was made to transfer him to University Hospital as soon as he heard from the other doctor. Before the transport arrived, a breathing treatment was administered to him. It did nothing.
Here we go again. Luke in the ambulance, me following behind. I wish I could go with him in the ambulance, but being that I am alone I had to have my car available in case I could not find anyone to pick up the kids from school.
As we arrived at the University Hospital, I had to park and by the time I made it back to the hospital building Luke was already taken to the ICU. The ER staff would not tell me where he was before I registered him with the hospital, but I could not register him because the ICU did not call the registration staff back to let them know what room he was in. So, I waited and I got mad. I did let everyone I came across now that too. All they would say was: “I understand.”
Well, finally after nearly 2 hours I was back with Luke. He was asleep and apparently slept through the entire thing. Once we were established in the room he was to have a breathing treatment every hour until his breathing calmed down. Once it did, he would have a treatment every 3 hours.
I called my wonderful friend and she picked the boys up from school and kept them overnight. She brought me dinner and I was able to rest between vitals being checked and breathing treatments.
The bishop came to visit and I was comforted by his presence. He entered the room still in uniform. Luke loves a guy in uniform. I think it reminds him of his Daddo. I am so grateful to have such a caring and loving bishop. He played with Luke for a bit and made sure Luke had a couple of toys to play before he left to visit other who needed his presence as much as I did.
By morning Luke’s breathing was back to normal. The doctors wanted to keep observing him for a little longer , but if he continued to improve we would go home that day.
The Pulmonologist came to see us and told us that El Paso is not good for Luke. See, when it gets cold here the people across the border burns all sorts of things to keep warm. Those things, sometimes, are carcinogens that could potentially harm people. Luke suffers every time.
We were sent home that evening with some medication and a promise that I would not leave the house for a few days. The Pulmonologist wants to see him and treat him long term. I already go a follow up appointment to request a referral to see her.
Luke is doing much better, but still has a cough. We see the doctor on Wednesday to see his progress. He will be on permanent medication till we move away.
My hopes is that he will outgrow this difficulty the same way as Ben did. Ben hardly ever has trouble anymore. Till then, we keep trying. Thanks for all the prayers sent our way.
1 comments:
andrea- i am so sorry u had to go through all that with luke. i hope and pray he starts doing better. ive been told the same thing by a diff pulmonolgist and ent dr about the air for lucas and sean. i hope he is doing well again soon and continues to stay well.
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