This all changed on Friday night when Bryn woke up coughing and quietly crying just after midnight. I listened for a few minutes and then heard a sound that startled me...the all to familiar barking cough of croup...a virus she had contracted for the first time just last fall. I went into her room to comfort her and noticed that not only was she coughing, she was wheezing and struggling to catch a breath. I couldn't see her face because it was pitch black in her room, but her sounds told me everything I needed to know. Bryn was scared to death. I immediately picked her up and tried to calm her with no avail. My mind raced to think of my options and luckily they came quickly. Steam shower. Cold air. I carried her into my bathroom, shut the door and turned on the hottest water my shower could make. Two minutes later Bryn started dry heaving which only caused more panic. As I held her close I felt her chest retracting in as she struggled for each breath. In that moment all I could do was pray. I asked for bravery, strength and discernment, and for God to put his arms around Bryn's little body. When the dry heaving continued into the following minutes I made a rational decision that this wasn't working and I needed to move on to plan "B." I grabbed a sweatshirt, a blanket and my phone and carried my terrified little girl out onto the front porch. I wrapped her tightly while quietly encouraging slow deep breaths of crisp winter air. But the tears continued.
On the outside I was calm and controlled, but on the inside I was frantic and scared. I called Tommy, who was still at work, and told him to come home immediately. We needed to get Bryn to the ER.
My thoughts in the moments waiting for Tommy to get home were surprisingly discrete. We went inside. I opened a window. I sat Bryn next to the window. I grabbed her pacifier. I put on shoes. I remembered Xander...Xander would need to eat within the next 3 hours. He wont drink frozen milk. I had no fresh pumped milk. We ALL had to go to the hospital. It was 1:15 am. Grab the diaper bag. Grab a sippy cup. Grab extra clothes for the kids...just in case.
It only took 15 minutes for Tommy to get home, but it felt like an hour. I was holding a still gasping Bryn when he walked through the door. He took one look at Bryn's tear filled eyes and went into action. He grabbed her from my arms and went to get her coat on and start the car while I woke Xander from his cozy slumber. Within 5 minutes we were on our way to the Hospital.
I sat in the back seat with the kids. I was quietly comforting Xander and gently rubbing Bryn's hand. Halfway to the hospital I noticed that Bryn's breathing was FINALLY started to regulate. For a few moments Tommy and I debated turning around and going home, but since it was a Friday night, and we were already out, we would continue to have her checked out just to be safe.
Gratefully, we arrived to an empty waiting room and were taken back immediately. Within 5 minutes a nurse was by our side checking Bryn's oxygen levels and giving her stickers. To our great relief her levels were back to 100%. We learned quickly that it is common for croup-induced breathing problems to resolve on the way to the hospital because of the lengthened exposure to the cool air. For several moments I felt incredibly silly for taking Bryn to the ER but our nurse quickly reassured me that it was the smartest thing we could have done. When a child has trouble breathing for any extended period of time it is smart to have them checked out as soon as possible. Since it was the weekend, the ER was our best option.
Bryn was seen by the attending physician, given a breathing treatment, sent for a chest X-ray, and swabbed for RSV and the Flu. Her chest x-ray showed inflammation that was common with classic croup and her lab work came back negative. Before we were released she was given a second breathing treatment and a one time oral steroid to help with the swelling. We were instructed to monitor her closely over the next 24-48 hours, run a cool mist humidifier, and to follow up with our pediatrician on Monday.
By the time we were released from the hospital it was 4:30am. Exhausted, we made the drive home quietly as the kids drifted to sleep in the back seat. As I laid in bed that early morning, I couldn't help but think how fast things change. That in a moments time I went from slumber, to paranoia, to action, to relief, to comfort. As I glanced at Tommy sleeping soundly next to me I said a quick prayer of thankfulness that things didn't end up any worse than they did.
This may have been our first trip to the ER, but it most certainly won't be our last.
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| The morning after...We were all weary but B was feeling much better. We even made cloud dough in the kitchen! |
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