AN UNEXPECTED TURN

Halloween of 2014 will now be remembered by both The Good and The Bad. Two weeks.....two weeks of  symptoms that seemed to linger. I was not sure if I was going to share this on my blog but decided the more good thoughts and prayers, the better. Plus, it just may help others to be aware of a similar issue. What was thought to be a virus for the first week, turned out to be a ruptured appendix. In a six year old! Rare? Turns out, yes and no.

The symptoms were not constant...

tummy pain, some vomiting, low grade fever, a few bathroom issues and decreased appetite. 

Toward the end of the first week, feeling better.....

able to go to back to school one day. 

Saturday and Sunday, just feeling a bit punk.......

then the last week rolls around and symptoms seem to come back, but not severe......

A trip to the Pediatrician......who was out of town, and a visit to the Nurse Practitioner. She felt it was probably a stomach virus.....prescribed Miralax, thinking it was perhaps gastric related. Then came Friday, Halloween of 2014. Back to the Pediatrician, who is excellent, by the way. Two Pediatricians agree on possible diagnosis and off to the Emergency Room......A Ruptured Appendix, a week old. Also an infection from a large abscess. The night begins with Emergency Surgery. As it was, the hospital had performed five ruptured appendix surgeries in young chidlren that same day. 

This is frightening on so many levels. The child, the parents, all of the extended family of grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and cousins......many prayers and text messages have flown between I-phones for a number of days. I tend to sometimes play the "what if" game in my mind...but "the darling" brings me back to positive thoughts! "What if" didn't happen. He was finally diagnosed properly, he had a wonderful team of doctors, nurses and healthcare providers who are bringing our little precious boy back to good health. Our prayers have been heard and we are so very, very grateful. Each day is moving in a positive direction, even though it's all so scary and painful to a tiny six year old.

He will be home the entire month of November. A month out of his class, missing his friends and his teachers. They have been wonderful! His teacher, Mrs. Haley has come to see him in the hospital. They have kept in touch with his parents through many emails and text messages. The entire class is working on a surprise for their little buddy.

Dear friends, Laurence and Tina Marie showed up with huge gift bags of "good things"....slippers, tolietries, lotions, magazines, crossword puzzles, snacks, teas, hot cocoa's, instant oatmeals, stress balls,.....all such thoughtful and useful gifts. Oh, how heartwarming it is to have such good friends! They were able to share those favorite emotions of laughter through tears........

His Mom and Dad have kept a long vigil by his bedside. Thoughtful gifts from family and friends are lifting their spirits! Maine Grandma will be boarding a flight to Atlanta this weekend to lend a hand in preparing meals, doing the household chores, and lending emotional support so that this little guy can get back to where he needs to be.....enjoying life and smiling. I'll just bet there's going to be a new puppy in his future! Until then.....I think there is a big soft and furry (stuffed) Golden Retriever headed his way. His name is "Garth"......remember the song by Garth Brooks.......

When the rain's blowing in your face

And the whole world is on your case

I would offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

There ain't nothin' that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends of the earth for you

Make you happy, make your dreams come true

To make you feel my love