Blame it on "poor judgement" but I had Henry hanging out with the older boys one evening while I was cooking dinner. Our oldest tends to be over dramatic at times. You know the story of "don't cry wolf". I was cooking when I heard him scream, "Mom, come quick". I shouted back, "I am in the middle of something.. what is it". Another come quick plea then I heard crying and a strange cough. I dashed to the stairs and there was Henry-- choking, crying and turning blue!! I quickly pulled him over, swept his mouth and whatever it was was way too far back. The boys didn't know what he had in his mouth because he was dancing and jumping on the bed. Then- a cough, a gag, no breath, vomit.
He was turning bright red, blue, purple. Then he would cry, cough, vomit. The vomiting became constant and soon he couldn't make sounds. He could barely breathe.
I panicked. YES- total freak out. I have never had so much fear in my life. I called Thomas when he was vomiting.... HURRY HOME!! In a stern voice he said "Call 911". I said he is breathing... then "Oh Lord- he is vomiting and turning blue". I hung up the phone and dialed for the ambulance.
++ I must interject here. I am one that doesn't call 911 on a whim. I actually saw $$ signs running through my head....why I second guessed myself for the almighty dollar? Stupid!! You hear of large bills due to an unnecessary ride to the hospital. I thought I could "FIX" it... I was wrong. It is a service that is necessary when needed. Money is just money and a life cannot be replaced. Lesson learned.++
His pulse O2 was in the low 80's when they got there. The lady on the other end of the 911 call kept telling me I was doing good. I was trying to keep my other 4 calm, me calm and Henry calm. My grandmother was the most calm. The children cried and as we all watched him suffer. Henry doesn't talk so he couldn't express himself. The only thing that spoke was his eyes.... big, scared and worried.
My precious child. With each cough, gag and vomit he was slipping into being in a weak state.
Thomas ( my hero) came in the door and right behind him was the ambulance. We were strapped to the "cart" and off we went.
Because we were not sure WHAT he had swallowed they decided to do an MRI. That baby was so still while they took the pictures. Never moved a muscle. Not once.... amazing. There is was... a quarter.
What seemed like eternity, the on call ENT came in and said- its off to surgery. Lucky enough, we did not have any incisions. But he was completely put under and that was scary. Before he went into the OR, Henry could no longer make sounds or cry. His breathing was quick and shallow. I was terrified!!
All things went well and a couple of hours later he was back to normal!! Smiling!!
For the next 4 days I cried.... a lot!! It was sitting at the top of his trachea. One more cough, one more movement and things could have been bad... REAL bad. It made me REALLY realize- that our lives could have changed in a second.
We so take our "lives" and "routines" for granted. We so let the little things get in the way of the bigger picture. I am grateful for another day with our son. I am grateful for the days with my children, grandmother, mother and husband. I definitely looked inward and started to realize.... time to
"declutter". I don't want a serious situation to happen where I can't deal with it because I have "cluttered" my life with frustrations, complaints and anger. I have a long way to go... but I am DEFINITELY working on it everyday.
Thanks be to God for another day and another chance.
I will say- I have purged our home. If it fit in my hand it went to my garbage can. Henry still puts things in his mouth... but with a little more caution.
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| Right before surgery |
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| Just out of surgery |
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| 'Thirsty! |
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| Interest in a toy and Elmo show. |
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| Finally, the smile we ALL know and love |
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