A Haunting Memory

On Monday, April 4th, Dallas had a routine ECHO in the morning and an appointment to change his g-tube afterwards.  His ECHO went very well, and his g-tube was changed without any trouble.  Dallas didn't seem 100% himself, he wasn't eating his normal amounts, but wasn't fussy either.  We were at Children's for about 4 hours and then headed to my sister-in-law's (Renee's) house to pick up Dakota.  When we arrived. she was napping, so Dallas and I settled in for a visit.

Fast forward about and hour, Dallas was laying on the floor and Renee and I were next to him.  He looked tired and uncomfortable and he did a little shake, almost like he got a chill or got spooked!  I smiled and looked at him and it only took me a few seconds to realize he wasn't breathing.  His face became dusty, lips were blue, eyes rolled back.  Renee (thank GOD) called 911, and I proceeded to pick him up and scream and scream and scream.  After panicking all over the living room, laying him down, blowing air in his mouth, trying to think of how to do CPR, I ran outside with him and screamed for help.  It's a bit of a blur as pure panic took over my mind and body.   The 911 operator was telling Renee to get Dallas laid down flat on his back, so she started to tell me to do that and I came back in the house and laid him down.  Just then a couple of neighbors came running in and one of them knew what she was doing and took Dallas and rolled him over, by this time Dallas had food running out his mouth and nose and his eyes were back, his color was returning.  He was starring into space and although didn't seem "with" us, I knew he was alive. However,  I continued to be hysterical by the thought of losing him.

We went in the ambulance to Children's and they did many tests, although they said right away that Dallas had most likely had a febrile seizure (fever related).  This type of seizure is apparently very common (I have never heard of it) and happens in 1 of 25 kids during the age of 6 months and 5 years.  Half of these kids will never have another seizure, and the other half will go onto to have another one, or keep having them into childhood.  Prevention of fever is the key to keeping this from happening again, but in Dallas's case, we think the seizure might have happened first and then the fever.  Fantastic.  Anyway, they tried hard to find a source of his fever, and we had no luck.  All of his blood work came back normal, as well as his urine test and chest x-ray.  They also did a CT scan, because Dallas's mother (i.e., me) insisted on knowing that this wasn't a brain initiated seizure.  This too, came back normal.  On a side note, the ER stay was brutal for us and for Dallas.  It took 3 different people, 3 tries in his foot, one in his head, and finally ended in a finger poke, to get all the blood they needed.  It was gut wrenching to watch, but you know they have to get the blood in order to help him, so you can't beat them up!  The very second someone starts checking Dallas's veins, he knows what's coming and he just cries and cries.  It sucks.

His fever continued all day yesterday and we think it's teeth related.  His gums are swollen and he doesn't like to eat.  He seems to be feeling a little better this morning.  Happy boy!

I have informed Dallas sternly, that he is to never do this again. 

Watching Tangled, Dakota requested his presence and he was happy to oblige!