The day started out like any other day. Ryan woke up his usual normal time. Daddy and him talked and played while I pretended to still be sleeping then around 7ish I get out of bed, get ready eat, get Connor up (takes multiple attempts) etc. It's a scramble to get out the door with water bottles, lunch boxes, back packs, but we do it. We arrive at school right at the 8:30 bell (there really isn't a bell but that would be cute).
I get home, skip my morning walk a mile around the park with Boji routine (Miracle One of God's that day) and am sitting on the couch, laptop on lap, watching big brother. My friend Katie's phone number pops up in my phone and I answer in a chipper voice.
Katie" Jill, there is an emergency, an ambulance has been called, Ryan is having a hard time breathing"
Jill: black out but know I grabbed keys and get out the door. Call Ray as we both race the 5 minutes to preschool
Arrive at school,
ambulance is in parking lot.
Once inside I can see my precious baby boy, breathing. A little pale, a little shy but he is breathing and alive and fine. The EMT guys were super sweet, there guess a bee sting.
EMT leaves and I quickly get the story of what lead to this point so I can retell the story to the ER.
Ryan was playing outside with his friends approx 8:30-9:00. Came in and he was scratching his neck like an insane person (the scratch marked are still on his neck, 24 hrs later). His teacher obviously became concerned and now two teachers are staring at my just barely 3 year old trying to figure out why he is trying to dig the demons out of his neck. At this point the hives arrive in full force all over his checks.
His teacher picks him up and puts him up high on the counter top so the two teachers (one being my good friend Katie) can further exam him. They lift up his shirt see the hives have taken over his chest and that's when Katie knows his little throat will be closing soon. She leaves the class room, calls 911 and then calls me (miracle two- I'll explain later). Goes back to the room to find Ms. Tammy (Ryan's teacher) screaming; his stiff body (shoulders wouldn't go down) breath becomes raspy then eyes rolled back in his head. She said it was the slowest time has ever moved she said in reality probably 10 seconds. Then the screaming or who knows what, snaps him back into focus, looking at her and silently crying. Then he does it (3rd miracle) gasps for breath!!!!! Started breathing. Stopped crying.
We take him to the worlds worst hospital (defiantly not Cincinnati Childrens). The kid in front of us in line looked like the back of his head hit a saw, or a dogs mouth. Blood on his grandma, dad and himself. They acted like he was a 5 year old selling popcorn, no rush, no emergency here, just a little boy loosing blood from his head. After his dad filled out the insurance paperwork they had him go sit in the waiting room and WAIT to be called back. Umm yea. I did ask Ray twice if we should just leave if that was what we were seeing. Considering that was the person in front of us they did see us quickly and we were in and out of there in one hour. Hospital was horrible and a waste of our time and I'm sure LOTS of $$. They didn't remove any clothes to look for (I don't know a bee or scorpion sting), they didn't ask what he had eaten for the day.
They diagnosed him with "hold your breath syndrome". He does fit the description. Basically it says, who knows why but hives, rasp or no breathing and seizure like activity. Followed by lethargic. Would you be able to handle that diagnosis. Not this Mom. After a plead by a practice to see him that same day (yea I know we are new patients, yes I know we are moving in a month, but I have a sick little boy). We got in at 4:15. This was a doctor who took her Oath for real. She spent 40 minutes with Ryan & myself. Heard the whole story two times, didn't interrupt and was very concerned. She agrees with me that it was an allergic reaction. She put in an order for him to see an Allergist. She also recommended seeing a neurologist, but I'm not going to pursue that unless the Allergist thinks there is a need for that.
*Katie i.e. the worlds most wonderful person! I met Katie on a park bench one lonely day in Phoenix. She was warm, inviting, friendly, non judgementel and God loving person I've ever met. If I had not met her, I wouldn't have been at preschool where she taught. She knew that prior to yesterday Ryan had no allergies, no medical issues and knew him better than any other person in the state of Arizona thus far. She had my number in her phone was able to call me right away. I love her, appreciate her and thank God for putting her in my life.
