Another Scary Day.
Last evening I was getting my kids’ dinner ready, and I had set my 22 month old in his highchair. My husband walked in and walked straight over to Cooper who usually would yell, “Daddy,” but instead was staring off, and his arm was twitching. My husband picked him up, and my baby flopped around and began convulsing more and more, with eyes rolling all around. I didn’t know what was going on, and I freaked out instantly. I think I said, “let’s go, somethings wrong, lets go…” My husband who stays very calm, just nodded and we went out into the garage. My baby was convulsing worse now, and throwing up. My husband said it was like holding a water balloon, he had no muscle control.
My husband told me to call 911, and I had to tell them my address and phone number 4 times. I started telling them what was going on, and crying asking them what to do. I gave the phone to my husband who used to be a 911 operator, and knows how to talk to them more efficiently. I helplessly followed them around, as my husband laid Cooper in the grass, as instructed and Cooper flopped and moaned, with eyes rolling. At this point I did not know if it was a seizure or a stroke, but all I could say is “somethings wrong…”
Once the ambulance showed up they took him and laid him in back and started taking his temperature, and poking him, hooking him up to things. He just stared off into space, and lay there. At this point they’d determined he had had a seizure, and wanted to take him to the children’s hospital. I didn’t know however that the veg out stage can last so long. I thought that it was like when someone faints, they come to shortly after, so I began to panic. I saw him laying there, with them snapping in his face trying to get him to respond, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The EMT told me I needed to get it together if I wanted to ride with them, so I started taking deep breaths and praying. I didn’t stop praying. The 40 minute ride was just as terrifying, again as the EMT never said, “this is normal,” but instead would say things like, “that’s weird he didn’t cry when I drew blood.” or “that’s weird he’s not playing with the oxygen mask, kids normally do.” Cooper’s head rolled around, so I had to hold it most of the way so it didn’t bang into the side of the car seat.
We finally got to the hospital and as we got him out of the back, he started to blink and look around, as if he was just waking up. This started to make me feel a little better. They got us in quickly and the doctor informed us that all his symptoms were normal for a “febrile seizure,” and that it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after the seizure for them to really come to.
Thanks to our neighbors, our other boys were taken well care of, guarded from seeing their baby brother like that, and we were picked up from the hospital.
We had a basically sleepless night sleep, and today took him into a follow up visit at the doctor. They think he’s got a virus, and we were instructed to give him medication every three hours, to keep the fever from getting high, round the clock for 3 days and to keep him down, and resting.
We are so grateful that it was not something worse, but are still fairly traumatized from the experience. It was the worst thing to see, and I don’t want it to happen again.
I can’t hug and hold him enough today.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Hey, Kristin, glad to hear that he got good care and that you’re back home. Kat posted re: this on Facebook, so we’ve been praying for you. Hang in there!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:04 am
I thought Brody had the cutest picture of Cooper, but this one might have his beat!
I have been praying for you guys and can’t imagine how scared you must have been. Let me know if I can do anything more from NC. I will be in touch in a couple of days to check in!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Oh my gosh, Kristin. Tears are in my lap. How scary. Geez. Prayers your way!
September 26th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Kristin,
This happened to my daughter when she was around 1. It really scared me. I had never imagined that this would ever happen…and I had never heard of it before. She didn’t even have any symptons of being sick!! She is now 7 and hasn’t had any other problems.
Just wanted you to know…things will be ok.
Take Care
Jessica
Pa
September 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
So scary. Glad he’s doing a little better – and I’m glad Brody was there and able to remain calm. Hard to do for anyone when they see their little one in such a state.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:54 am
So scary! I cried the whole way through the post. I can’t even imagine. I pray he is completely back to his usual happy self, so sorry for you guys but so thankful he is doing better. We will continue to pray for him though.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I am so sorry this happened. That sounds like the same thing that happened to Larissa’s little one and it was really scary for them to. I will pray that he heals quickly.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Good lord. I am so sorry to hear that, and can’t imagine the unbelievable terror…
But so glad to hear that he is okay.
September 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sweet Kristin – You and Brody are incredible parents and your precious boys are so blessed to be in your care. Even more so, they are in the care of Our Heavenly Father and although, I wished you wouldn’t have had to experience that gripping terror at all – I am praising God that little Coop is doing better. You hold and hug and squeeze and smile and cry and whatever else on your baby for as long and as much as you need to! I am praying over each one of you. And I am asking the Lord to lovingly remind you of that wonderful scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Amen!!!
Melody
September 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hey, Kristin…. this is Danielle Renstrom, Daniel’s wife. Just wanted you guys to know that we’ve been praying for you and little Cooper. Can’t imagine how difficult that was. We were so concerned when Daniel saw on Brody’s twitter that ya’ll were headed to the hospital. Glad to hear he’s ok now. We’ve had a few scary moments with our girls, and I constantly have to remind myself that it is God who is protecting them and He cares more for them than I ever could – such peace in that.
Oh, and I should admit…I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for a while… I’m what my sisters-in-law call a “free-loader” – always reading but never commenting
September 27th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Oh Kristin, I can’t imagine how horrible that must have been. I’m SO glad he’s going to be ok. I’ve been praying for you all…
September 28th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I am so sorry, Kristin. I’ll be praying for little Cooper for continued health… Glad he’s OK! And I’m glad all is well. Blessings.
September 28th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Thank you for the prayers, everyone.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I happened to read your blog – I don’t know you but I can so relate. Our 14 month old grandson did the same thing that you described 2 weeks ago. Because there was no fever involved they’ve had to do some tests (MRI and EEG as well as others). Tomorrow is the EEG. They get him up at 2:00am and keep him up until the test at 7:00am. Crazy. Just wanted to say that I am praying for you guys and love that God is really, really good at what He does and we can trust Him.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Dear Kristin, I thank God for Cooper’s health!
October 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
OH girl. I am so glad things are OK. Thank the Lord he is doing OK. Hug him more this week again!
October 9th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Ran across your blog kind of randomly and this post touched my heart, because my son did the same thing when he was about 16 months old. It definitely is a scary, traumatic thing to have happen in your home!