Yesterday, I had probably the scariest 15 minutes of my life. At least, I can't remember a scarier quarter of an hour. It led to an interesting and exhausting day to say the least.
As the kids were walking to the car yesterday morning, Coop told me his stomach was upset. I remember being a kid and telling my mom I had an upset stomach on days I didn't want to go to school. I told him, "Give it a try and if your stomach doesn't feel better then go to the nurse and have her call me". So, at 8:30 Margaret got that call. Evidently, I we missed his fever. I figured no big deal. It has been a busy week, and I could use a day watching cartoons and hanging out with Coop.
We went to pick up my computer from the office and ran a couple of errands because Coop was acting just fine. I could tell his stomach was a upset cause he didn't eat much of his taco when we stopped for some food. We headed home and declared a "Voltron" marathon for the day as coop was recuperating.
We were talking as we watched TV. I was telling him how I used to watch this show all the time when I was a kid. We were having a great time. About 11:35, I asked him something and looked over and he didn't move. I said his name and he didn't respond. I had a bad feeling so, I got up and noticed he had wet himself and still wasn't moving. I grabbed his shoulder and said his name to wake him up. His mouth was filled with saliva and it just came poring out. I yelled his name and still had no response from him. I grabbed my phone and dialed 9-1-1 as I checked for a pulse and breathing. I noticed his ear was red as a firecracker so I know he was burning up.
I was really starting to stress as I waited for the emergency operator to pick up four different times I hear, "Thanks for calling Bexar County Emergency Services, all operators are busy with other emergencies at the moment and will be with you as soon as possible" At least it was something like that and then that repeated in Spanish. Each time I got that message, I freaked out just a little bit more. I was beginning to think I needed to pick him up and carry him outside and see if any of my neighbors could help. I thought I needed to keep him still cause I didn't want to mess anything up. I thought it might be a seizure, I remembered from some first aid class years ago to put him on his side and make sure nothing was blocking his airways. I did that and continued to yell his name and get more angry as the emergency operator finally answered the phone.
She told me to calm down as I was speaking pretty loud when I gave her my address and described what was going on. I blew in Coop's face cause I thought that might help him breathe or something. I don't know maybe I was hoping my bad breath would work like smelling salts and snap him out of it. During all this, he finally opened his eyes. It was pretty much like a deer in the head lights type of look. I still couldn't get him to say anything or move or make any kind of motion to let me know he was snapping out of this. The emergency lady on the phone asked if I knew what his temperature was. I grabbed the thermometer on the kitchen counter and tried to use it. Pressed the button and ran it across his forehead. It said 71.4. I wanted to cuss. About that time I could hear sirens. The lady on the phone told me to put away in animals that may cause problems. I stepped back and looked out the front window and saw a fire truck pulling up in front of my house. Finally, Coop moved. He even said, "Dad" very quietly. I finally took a breath.
Before I knew it half a dozen people were in my living room looking him over. I told them what happened. I picked him up and put him on the gurney. The EMT's looked at him and every time they asked him how he was the response was "Good". You could tell he was still out of it and that was just an automated response. I found out what hospital they were taking him to and at that point I knew it was safe to call Mom. I called Marge and told her as calm and quick as I could what happened and where we were going. She said she was on the way to the hospital and would meet us there. We loaded onto the ambulance and headed out.
About a month before this happened we were watching an episode of "Shark Tank". Coop saw this thing on there that was a sticker that takes your temperature. He thought that was the coolest invention. The EMT put one on his forehead while we were at the house. He started actually talking to me while we were on the ambulance to the Hospital. I asked him if he knew he had one of those stickers on his head. He reached up and felt it and just smiled. I am really starting to feel better at this point. I called the church to get the pastors praying and let them know what was going on.
We walked into the Emergency room from the ambulance. Went straight to a room and got him hooked up to monitors and nurses were there taking his vitals. Mom got there and sat down with him. It was okay for me not to step away for a minute. I got up left the room and bawled. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life.
All this to say, if you are a parent, take a first aid class. Be prepared for the unlikely. Coop has never had a seizure before. I hope he never has one again. The doctors are pretty sure it was a freak thing that won't happen again. We are going to a neurologist in a couple of weeks to make sure he checks out okay. I am just relieved that my little boy is back home today sitting with me watching Voltron and He-Man laughing as he is feeling better. I just hope you are more ready than I was. So, please take a class be ready.
