Thursday, March 26, 2009

Six years ago, this was my boy!

I am reposting this. It has been six years this month that this happened.


I remember so well. We were having a turkey dinner that Sunday night and I was running late so I gave Timmy his bath early. He complained about his neck hurting. During dinner he complained of his neck hurting. He went to bed complaining (and crying) about his neck hurting. He woke up at 10:00 complaining and crying that his neck was hurting. I called the Dr. who sent us to the ER. That night they sent us home with a prescription for a stiff neck. The next day he was still crying about his neck hurting. He had a fever and couldn't stop crying. We went back to the ER and 7 hours later (and many tests later) he was in an ambulance heading to Boston to Children's hospital. Rich and I joined him in Boston. We spent 8 long days in ICU with him. There were some very scary moments. I remember the most frightening day of my life was when Rich and I were taken into a small room with the doctors who told us that there was the possibility that Timmy could die. He was very sick. They had so many teams of doctors trying to figure out what was wrong with him. I stayed by his side in the ICU each day and night. I remember the day there were about 10 doctors over him trying everything they knew how to do to help. His blood pressure had dropped so low! The poor boy was on massive antibiotics and morphine. They finally decided that he had a retropharyngeal abscess with Mediastinitis.


After about six days he stared improving and they decided he didn't need to be as sedated as he was. I remember when they "woke" him up he turned to me with tears in his eyes and mouthed the word "momma" to me. I still get so emotional thinking of that. When he was taken out of the ICU the poor boy started going through morphine withdrawal. He was released from the hospital and sent home with IV antibiotics.

About a week after we got home he started getting very sick again so we went back to Children's Hospital and after several days they discovered that he had allergies to the antibiotics that he was on.

It was the most heart wrenching time of my life!! I know that all my friends and family (even people I didn't know) who were praying for Timmy played such an important part of his recovery.



It's been three years and he is such a healthy boy now and quite the funny boy at that. Today we were driving to school and I told him that he was handsome. A minute later he said, "so I got all the looks" and Brittainy got everything else!".

I can't imagine my life without him. He fills my heart with such joy!!


take care,
Dawn

22 comments:

SmilingSally said...

Doctors who make mistakes are scary. I'm glad you are on this side of that experience.

Lorrie said...

That's quite a story Dawn. I can't imagine how scary it was at the time. Most of the time we take being healthy for granted, but an experience like this makes you thankful every day for good health!

Anonymous said...

Dawn, I know you once mentioned that Tim was very ill at one time. I didn't know the details. For parents this is a nightmare and when you wake it was all a horrible dream. Only this nightmare was real. Thank heaven God was not ready for Tim yet.

I agree Tim is a special boy with so much sweetness and cleverness too. Tim gets it!!! I love his remark about his sister. Thank you for sharing your story about Tim.

Hugs...Jeanne

Debi said...

I remember when you posted this before, and I think I'm crying every bit as much this time around. I don't think there's anything worse on earth than watching your baby suffer, wondering if they're going to be okay, feeling so utterly helpless.

When Max was born prematurely and had to be ambulanced off to a hospital with better facilities, it felt like the world was crashing in. Then when I was finally allowed out of the hospital the next day, and got to go see him, it only got worse. He looked a lot like Timmy there (only a smaller version). On a ventilator, tubes and wires everywhere, IV in his head. Seemed like one setback after another, jaundice, brachycardia, seizures, yet we actually knew he was most likely going to be okay. But then before he was even out of the NICU, Annie had her worst asthma episode ever. She ended up hospitalized, in a hospital an hour away from the one Max was in. Her doctors admitted to us that they were scared...her oxygen sats were just too low and nothing seemed to be working. I guess it's at moments like that that you really learn how strong you can be when you have to be.

I am so sorry that Tim and you and Rich had to go through that. I can tell from your post, and think I honestly can understand, how that experience will never leave you. I'm just so very, very happy that both your family and mine got the happy endings!!!

Darlene said...

Hi Dawn,

What a scary, SCARY time in your life with your baby in the hospital fighting for his life. I have never heard of that and read about it. Sounds bad! I am so glad that he recovered with no ill effects.

He cracks me up with "he got all the looks" HEHEHE....too cute!

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn. I am so happy that the story had a happy ending. You would never know that he was sick a day in his life. Its so true that life can turn on a dime. Glad that his sense of humor is working overtime....Darrell

Nola said...

That brought me to tears just knowing things could have turned out so differently! I know you count your blessings daily that you have a healthy happy little boy now.

Unknown said...

Dawn,
This is such an inspirational post. I can't imagine how you must have felt during this time.

I'm so glad that your story had a happy ending!

Tim is a cutie! It won't be long before he will be fighting the girls off! LOL

Thanks for the repost...I didn't know this.

Diane

litanyofbritt said...

that was so scary. i look at those pics periodically but now all i can see is kenzie lying there, (she's about that age now), and i could have a heart attack. i dont know how you didnt have a heart attack.

The Muse said...

I'm going to write my sons.... :)

What a lovely post!

Anonymous said...

such a gorgeous wonderful little boy and so brave, just like his mum. I have been in and out of hospital with heart condition. my mum nearly lost me I can empathise with your story. Just know that he will always be a wonderful special boy I am glad he and you got through it ok.

jeanne said...

Hi Dawn, I am going to bed now but was thinking of you. I hope all is well and your school obligations are easing up a bit.

Good night for now.

Hugs...Jeanne

Becky said...

That was a very scary time for you and your family. So thankful everything is all okay now. Is he still wanting a dog? Have you decided what it will be? A boy sweet as he is deserves a dog to be his buddy!

Judi said...

Dawn
What a scarey time that was. Its so difficult when they or anyone gets sick and its difficult to get it under control...especially if they can't be sure what it is or where it came from. Thankfully he is well and that is 3 years past.
He sounds like a little sweetie. That was so sweet of his comparison of him and Brittney.
thank you for sharing your story.
Have a lovely day. I hope its not rainy and windy and dark like ours.
Judi

jeanne said...

Hi Dawn, thinking about you today. I miss you girl.

Hugs...Jeanne

Tracy said...

My goodness, Dawn...I didn't know of this story before, so it was heavy-hearted reading...I am just so thrilled Timmy is ok and all well! Scary times make us stronger though, don't they? Thinking of you and sending ((BIG HUGS))

Kim's Treasures said...

That is quite a scary story! I am sooo glad he doing so well 3 years later!!!

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

Sooo glad the doc figured out what was wrong and were able to treat and resolve the infection.
OMG! Tim said that? He is a riot!

Judi said...

Hi Dawn
Just saying hello. I've been missing you and hope all is well...hopefully you are just busy with fun things..
have a lovely day
Judi

jeanne said...

Hello Dawn, thinking about you and hoping all is well. I miss your posts about your life and school.

Hugs...Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Wow, Dawn. I'm so glad you got your happy ending. I believe you had angels with you those days. Thank goodness he is okay now. What a scary experience that must have been. I can't even imagine.

Neabear said...

Since I am behind on reading, I had not read this yet. Wow, what an ordeal you and Rich went through at that time. Tim is such a special boy. Loved his commment about his sister too. Too cute! I am go glad he got better.