A Quick Stop to the Emergency Room?

Last week was full of plans that included going to the Flowertown Festival, grocery shopping and getting our house perfectly clean for Caleb's parents and grandparents' visit. None of which happened. Instead we took an unexpected trip to the Children's E.R. because our Delainey got sick with some frightening symptoms.

It all started right after we got back from Georgia. That Monday, I found a tick in Delainey's hair. I saved the tick in a plastic bag and immediately called her Pediatrician. They said to just keep an eye on her for the next 24-48 hours. She seemed fine for the next few days. That Friday, however, she didn't feel well and threw up. The next day I was gone all day shooting a wedding on Edisto Island but Caleb didn't notice any strange symptoms. Sunday morning she woke up with a fever and a strange rash on her face. I called her Pediatrician's after hours/weekend service and they instructed me to take her to the Children's E.R. at MUSC. We had no idea she wouldn't be coming back home until Wednesday!

Caleb and I were sure it wasn't going to be a big deal so we loaded up the whole family to head downtown. Our thought was that Caleb, Bryant and Elle could walk around downtown and enjoy the sunshine while Delainey and I got our prescription for an antibiotic. I thought I would just call Caleb on his cell when we were all done and he could pick us up at the curb. We could be back in Summerville in perfect time to make the Flowertown Festival... after all, surely she wasn't contagious and she seemed like she would be okay.

WRONGO! Within the first few minutes they had started an I.V. and were talking about doing a spinal tap to check her for Meningitis of the brain, which ticks can spread. The thing that had them so concerned was this rash on her face. Since we knew she had been bitten by a tick and this rash is sometimes associated with Lyme Disease and Meningitis, they didn't want to risk overlooking anything. I called Caleb and asked him to get back to the E.R. right away. Our friends, Brian and Annie kept Bryant and Elle so Caleb and I could focus on what was going on with Delainey.

Sunday was a very rough day. I felt so helpless and overwhelmed. I was scared like I've never been before and would have done anything to take Delainey's place in the hospital bed. I stayed the night with her that night and started out on the couch in her room. She woke me up at some very early hour and said, "Mommy, I don't like you over there. Can you come sleep in my bed with me." So we cuddled between I.V. lines, monitor cords and many nurse visits to check vitals and temperature. Neither one of us were able to rest well at the hospital but she was in good hands so it was worth it.

The next day, Caleb came and stayed that night with her. I went home to be with Bryant and Elle and fell into bed that night with exhaustion and sadness lurking over me. Test results were beginning to come back by then but we were still waiting on cultures. The time at the hospital felt like a big blur. Delainey started out very polite and even thanked the nurses for taking her temp. Each day she got more and more fearful of needles and people. Even if someone came in to take out her trash, she would hide under her pillow. She was quickly tired of being in the hospital and cried a lot while we were there. By the time we left, she wasn't making any friends and she didn't care any more. Tuesday rolled around and since I had gotten some rest at home, I went to relieve Caleb who was in serious need of sleep at that point. Finally, on Wednesday they let us come home with Delainey. Her tempt was still up to 104 but because her cultures were coming back with good reports and her White Blood Cell count was coming back down, they felt it was safe to release her. As of last Friday, she is fever free. She's back to her beautiful, feisty self!

Thanks to everyone for praying for Delainey's healing. Also, thank you for helping with our kids, for bringing food to us, for visiting us, for the thoughtful gifts, cards, and many calls to check on her.

Back to her self..