Dear friends,We just want to update you on the last 48 hours - our little girl, was down with a very high fever on Thursday night, she threw up for more than an hour straight. Phelgm was threatening to block her airway - and she was pale and breathless. We were alarmed to see that her hands and feet were turning blue, and her pulse-oximeter showed that she was dipping to below 50% oxygen levels. We rushed her down to the A+E at NUH late on Thursday night, and was admitted to ward 48.
Lizzie with high fever on Thursday night
The diagnosis was Viral Bronchiolitis. Thank God, the chest x-ray showed no sign of pneumonia.
That night was extremely tiring and stressful - Simon and I stayed over with her, but didn't have much rest, as parents have to look after their own kids in the ward.
Lizzie had two sessions of suctioning down her throat and nose, and was put on oxygen and monitored overnight.
Her oxygen picked up, and stabilized by Friday morning, though her feeds were down, and it was a struggle to feed her medication (she is currently on 6 different meds) as Lizzie would refuse to take any of her fever medication due to the strong taste. It took as long as 2 1/2 hours just to feed one dose. Because of her refusal to drink, the risk of dehydration would have the potential to cause blockage of her heart shunt. The nurses almost had to insert a nasogastric tube to feed her - but just at the very last minute, Lizzie drank down her medicines.
By Friday late afternoon, we made the decision to discharge her, as we all were not getting enough rest, with all the noise from other crying children, and the constant disruptions by students trying to examine her (Lizzie was something of a star attraction with groups of med students and trainee specialists on rounds because of her complicated medical history, they all wanted to hear what a BT shunt with persistant PDA sounded like).
Lizzie on Friday morning (oxygen levels stable)
For those of you who have never stayed in a normal paediatric ward - basically Simon and I were expected to care for Lizzie ourselves - change her, feed her, give medication, monitor oxygen, give oxygen facemask, spongebathe her etc. The nurses are only there to measure out the meds, mix the milk formula, take her temperature and change her bedsheet!!!
The critical issue keeping Lizzie warded was her oxygen level, and her ability to drink milk/meds. By the second day, her oxygen was stablized, and we were successful in keeping her hydrated - Prof Quek (Lizzie's cardiologist) was agreeable to let us bring her home to care for her ther (his reason was that he knew we have all the oxygen and equiptment at home, and we have the ability and enough experience to care for her safely at home). We were very grateful to be able to discharge by 5pm yesterday, but promised to bring her back if there were any complications.
It was so good to be home, in our own bed. Lizzie could sense this and immediately relaxed and slept in her cot peacefully. She would wake occasionally to cough out phlegm or indicate to us her throat/nose is blocked and we have been suctioning her airways quite successfully on our own. I am glad we made the decision to come home, as we were basically doing the exact same thing in hospital, only paying ward charges, and sleeping on creaky hammocks and plastic chairs.
Now I'm not saying that it is pointless to go to the hospital, as it was necessary for her to be warded when she took a turn for the worst on Thursday night. However, once she stabilized, it makes more sense to care for her at home.
Thank you to all our friends, family and spiritual family (ELIM family&Ebenezer, Gospelighters, Maria & your church) who supported us in prayer and gave us verses to meditate on. For reminding us that we ought to rejoice and delight in our trials and suffering, and continue to give thanks to the one who made us, is sustaining us, and who heals us.
Just want to share some of the verses I received (Thanks Liz and Tracy!)
"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving" Ps 69:30
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve my life..." Ps 138:7
"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" Isa 41:13
We want to give thanks to God for all the docs and nurses who helped us and even gave us a word of reassurance when they saw our distress.
"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving" Ps 69:30
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve my life..." Ps 138:7
"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" Isa 41:13
We want to give thanks to God for all the docs and nurses who helped us and even gave us a word of reassurance when they saw our distress.
We want to ask that you continue to uphold our little girl in prayer, as she is still sick and needs to be closely monitored and cared for. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for us at this time.
I have to say, that Lizzie was an extremely good girl through this whole ordeal. She didn't cry or fuss (only when she was vomiting or couldn't breathe). She slept well, and tried to drink her milk when she could breathe). We continue to give thanks to the Lord for her, and for her temperament, as the situation could have been a lot more stressful with an uncooperative child.
Just as my mother in-law always says "when a child is sick, after they recover - they will become smarter and learn new things" *(easily dismissed as an old-wives' tale, I am happy to report that this is true - Lizzie mastered waving bye-bye at the doctors, and learnt to clap her hands by Friday morning!!!).
God bless,Elaine
