I Dream of Jeannie

       The rescue unit alarm blew louder today and it wasn’t because I lived across the street from the siren.   I had heard this whistle go off many times over the years. I am guilty for giving it little thought during those years. I grew up in a small Midwest town where we were lucky to have  a volunteer fire and rescue unit. I never dreamed that I might need those volunteers someday. On this particular day, the siren was louder to me because I had been the one to dial 911.

      Thelma appeared like Jeannie on  I dream of Jeannie.  One minute I was alone in my living room with Meghann having grand mal seizure and the next minute Thelma was there. I don’t remember answering the door. At this point, she could of climbed through the window. I didn’t care.  I was grateful to see her show up to help Meghann. Thelma was a nurse and volunteer on the rescue unit and I had known her for many years.

       When the ambulance arrived at my house Meghann’s seizure had stopped. She wasn’t responsive at this time so they quickly  loaded her little limp body into the ambulance. I sat next to her  while Thelma took Meghanns vitals and did all she could at this point.  It was about a 20 minute ride to the local hospital. It seem to be taking more like 20 hours. I felt like everything was going in slow motion and I was helpless to do anything for Meghann. I was suppose to take care of her and I felt that I had failed. She was only 5 years old. How was any of this possible?

I know now, the one thing that I did  wrong was that I had  let my gut instinct be overridden by the expertise of the pediatrician the day before. My gut instinct is something that after this ambulance ride I have always listen to when it came to Meghann’s care. It has paid off in insurmountable ways over the years.   

       The red lights were flashing and the siren was blaring  we made it to the hospital in record time. To this day, when I hear sirens I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach with memories of Meghann’s first ride in an ambulance.

      Meghann spent 3 days in the local hospital until she started to have internal bleeding. The general practice doctor decided she needed to be transferred to a children’s hospital. It was a good move and I was glad to agree with the doctor. However hindsight tells me she should of been transferred the day we arrived at the local hospital.  Unfortunately, sometimes it is hard to make those decisions when you're in the moment.  At 9 o’clock at night my little girl was loaded into an ambulance with her IV’s still attached  and we left the local hospital.  I sat quietly   in the ambulance beside her and we headed to Rockford Illinois. I am not sure what time we arrived at the hospital but it was late. I was going on very little sleep. Meghann had been sick for a week before all of this started. I know when we arrived at this big hospital the staff went right to work on Meghann. The phlebotomist took several  vials of blood out of Meghann’s arm.  They started to schedule tests to be done immediately. I followed her to each department while they did a MRI,  EKG and etc.  By the time the sun was coming up Meghann was settled into the intensive care unit. She had a tube in her nose, several IV drips that seem to be keeping  tune with the heart monitor beeping. She was resting peacefully as if nothing was wrong however I knew better. Meghann was in an induced coma. She would be in this coma for several weeks. Finally, the next morning after being up all night the doctor came in with some results. He escorted me to his office.

       We sat down and he looked at me and said “ Meghann had a stroke.” stared at him speechless. I thought to myself he is nuts. Kids do not have strokes or do they?

http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/StrokeInChildren/Stroke-In-Children_UCM_308543_SubHomeP