Our Quiverfull

Aug. 5, 2009

Plan Q

Well, we didn't end up going with Plans A, B, C, D, E, or F . . . I think maybe it was something like Plan Q! :-)

Last night I blogged that we could NOT have a leave of absence after all. The resident was working on lining up ambulance transport when she learned that Noah had received special clearance and COULD just take the leave. Great - we could just drive him ourselves - no problem.

This morning as we were getting things lined up, waiting for supplies to administer IV meds and TPN on the road, etc. we were told that Risk Management had said that no, we could NOT have the leave of absence. An ambulance transport was being located. OK - I'm flexible!!

We had to leave by 9:30 at the very latest, and as that time approached with no transport team in site, I began to grow increasingly concerned. Finally we were told that the ambulance company could not get a non-emergency ambulance here fast enough and that we just needed to get in the car and go - BUT we had to wait to be discharged officially from the hospital since we were no longer a "transport" case. I understood that this wasn't really anyone's fault but I did request that a member of the hospital staff call the doctor in Columbia to explain why we were running late. They were more than happy to do so.

It was well after 10:00 when we left, and Corey did a great job of driving safely but working hard to quickly get around slow cars and make the best possible time. We were both feeling a lot of pressure as we watched the clock and saw Noah's appointment slot growing smaller and smaller. About 45 minutes or so away from Columbia, all traffic ground to a complete stop. Every little while we were able to inch forward and kept hoping that things would clear up around the next bend or over the next little hill - but traffic stayed hopelessly jammed.

As we were spinning our wheels (or not spinning them as the case may be) it became apparent that Noah was going downhill. Despite a dose of Motrin before we left the hospital, he seemed to be developing a rising fever. His IV antibiotics had finished running but I couldn't unhook him to flush his line or hook up TPN since he was in a car seat and we were on a highway! He was hanging his head and whimpering and just looking BAD. I finally grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911.

I explained that I had a medically fragile toddler who was being taken from one hospital to another for a consultation with a specialist. I told the operator that while Noah needed medical care, we didn't really need an ambulance - I could provide the needed care if there were a way to get us out of this traffic jam and to the hospital quickly. She said there was a bad accident ahead, that almost all available resources were tied up at the scene, and that all she could do was to send us an ambulance and have the ambulance take Noah to Columbia.

We were directed to pull off the road (thank the Lord we were in the correct lane to do so) and wait for the ambulance. We found ourselves wondering HOW an ambulance could get through that solid gridlock to us. We couldn't see how cars could even move out of the way as they were at a complete stop bumper to bumper at this point. We waited 20 minutes - we were 45 minutes away, sitting at a standstill, and it was past time for us to have arrived in Columbia. I was praying when we saw a State Trooper come barreling down the side of the road going the wrong way - but going toward us!! He informed us that the road was completely impassible and that the accident included a fatality. He wanted to know if we actually needed the ambulance or if a police escort would do the trick.

We very gratefully accepted his offer of an escort. He led us down the side of the road to an exit then through all sorts of back roads until he could get us back on the highway again. He was using his lights and diverting traffic and all sorts of things to get us to Columbia as fast as possible. He led us to within 5 miles of the hospital at which point we could easily manage things ourselves.

The doctor in Columbia had been informed of the situation by our hospital here, and the receptionist called us and very sweetly informed us that they understood and would see us whenever we got there. Even though we arrived well after our appointment should have ended, everyone was very kind to us. I got Noah in, got his fluids running, found out that his temp had spiked quite high in spite of the meds, got him more meds, and just generally took care of him. (BTW - we've been asked about fever meds. Noah gets dye-free liquid Motrin alternating with with Tylenol suppositories. We never know which will work.) As I was finishing up the doctor came in and proceeded to spend AN HOUR AND A HALF with Noah!! I could not even believe it. We learned that his after-lunch appointment had cancelled, meaning he was freed up to spend extra time with us even though we were so late!

I was very impressed with this doctor and it was clear that he was seeing some patterns in the labs, hospital reports, pictures of Noah with REALLY red eyes, etc. In the end, he said that he wasn't ready to give any sort of final opinion but that he wanted to spend some more time reading and comparing some of Noah's labs and talking to Dr. L, our beloved infectious disease doctor. He did say that he suspected that these red eyes/lips were the result of a staph toxin and that he was interested in Noah having a number of studies and tests, possibly including a bone scan. If a staph toxin is at work, apparently Noah will need very long term IV antibiotics.

We have so much to be thankful for. We don't have a clear cut answer or plan at this point, but I could see the wheels spinning and I know this doctor is kicking around a number of ideas. I'm thankful that we left late - who knows where we would have been at the time of that horrible accident if we had left on time? I'm thankful for my dear friend being willing to drive me, for the State Trooper who escorted us, and for all of the staff in Columbia who treated us so kindly. I'm VERY thankful for all of the prayers going up on our behalf - it's pretty clear we needed them!

Please pray for the families of the victim(s) of this accident. Please pray for a good plan (preferably one early in the alphabet LOL) to come about as the result of this visit. Pray for Noah as he does seem to be getting sicker each day, and pray for peace for him. This was very stressful for him in so many ways, and he is absolutely shot emotionally right now. I typed most of this with one hand while holding and snuggling him.

I'm going to go ahead and post a couple of the REALLY red pictures, but I'm going to put them under my signature. They are distressing and shouldn't be viewed by children or others who may find themselves very distressed. Keep in mind these were taken a few weeks ago and, as evidenced by the photos I posted recently, Noah doesn't look like this right now. I know some of you have medical backgrounds and have been curious about just what we mean by red eyes. While his eyes/lips etc have actually looked WORSE than these pictures, they'll give you an idea of what we are dealing with.

Again, thank you all for your prayers, comments, Scriptures, poems, and more. You won't know this side of heaven how much that all means.

Blessings,
Kate

photos below the asterisks to prevent accidental viewing by children
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Comments

Aug. 5, 2009 - Trip to Columbia

Posted by Carla

You surely got an angel in that state trooper, Kate! And the doctor, too. WOO HOO!!! An hour-and-a-half visit is almost unheard of these days. Praying that he will come to the correct conclusion and start the healing process in Noah. The red-eye pics aren't quite as bad as I thought they would be. He's still a beautiful precious baby, red eyes and all. Will keep praying and awaiting the next update.

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