How a Trip to the E.R. Let Me See My Son in a New Light

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“Call your Aunt C.; the doctor said to take him to the E.R.,” I told my husband as I held our son close.

This was following 3 sleepless nights.  The first 2 nights I thought were linked to thunderstorms that had passed through the area.  But that night?  It was like watching a caged animal fight to get out.  He would sleep for a short time and then wake, crying, quickly turning to screaming, as he tossed, turned and kicked.

The only thing I could get out of him was, “Head!  Head hurt!”

We were ready to go in record time, and when Aunt C. got here to stay with our oldest child, we headed off to the hospital.

 

I could write a post on how helpless I felt watching my little one suffer.  Or I could write about the questions and fears that go through your mind as you drive towards the E.R. with your little one in the back seat.things you learn in E.R.

 

Those are topics so many of you could probably relate to.

But what really sticks in my mind is my son.

The child who freaked out when we had a different nurse one time at the doctor’s office and I hadn’t known to prep him in time.

The little boy who has run away crying when other kids sat down at the table he had been sitting alone at.

The one who doesn’t want to sit on the rug with the other kids at library story time, who refuses to sing or do the dancing/hand motions if other kids are there.

 

He sat on the hospital bed, cuddling what he calls his “snuggie,” and he didn’t cry.  He didn’t beg me to hold him.

He watched the nurses with his big blue eyes, and he answered their questions, quietly at first, but he answered.  Before I knew it, he was even making conversation with them!  They asked about his head, and he started talking about how you have to be careful eating ice cream because you can get “freeze brain”.   (That’s what he calls it.)

At hospitals, you have different people coming in to your room, checking temperatures, asking insurance information…

My child who hates change, he sat there and took it all in without complaint.

Not only that, but he answered the questions so well that the doctor commented on how verbal he is.

 

 

We left the hospital with a prescription for what turned out to be a pretty good ear infection.  (One reason we headed to the E.R. instead of waiting for the doctor’s office to open is because he kept saying his ear didn’t hurt, and he didn’t have any other typical ear infection symptoms.)

But, really, I left with much more than just a prescription in my hand.  I left with some hope for my little guy.  What ever keeps him from interacting with his peers, what ever struggles there have been when he’s met change, today I saw a brave little boy and a part of my son I didn’t know existed.

 

 

Comments

  2. They can really surprise you sometimes. Since he had an ear infection which usually comes with a at least a low-grade fever, I wond if that had something to do with it. A small fever can have a calming affect sometimes. Also, it’s entirely possible that he realized that the staff at the hospital would make the pain go away so maybe that made him a little more open to them.

    Whatever the reason, it is a good sign and, I agree, a reason to hope. I hope that your little guy feels better soon.

    • Strangely he had no fever. I never would have thought he was sick if he wasn’t up screaming that night.
      You are probably right in the fact that he did know we were there to help him feel better.

      Have a great week!

  4. I’m so sorry you had to make an ER trip!

    But you have to be so proud of your little guy! So encouraging to see him handle it all so well!

    • Having to go to the ER was scary, but it confirmed a few things for me. My little guy has no problem talking with adults.
      Now, to figure out how to help him connect with kids.

  5. (Oh my, I had to do math?? Didn’t have enough coffee today 😉 )

    What a big boy your son is. That is a lot for an adult to take in, let alone a child. You should be proud of your parenting skills.

    But most importantly, so glad that it was just an ear infection. Have a great week!

  6. He slept last night — thankfully. During the day he gave no indication of being sick. I’m hoping he sleeps tonight, too.

    Yes! Sometimes they suddenly seem so much older than their years!

    • I have had some doozies of ear infections — they are one of the most painful things! I have to agree; I think it just hurt so much he couldn’t pinpoint where the pain was coming from exactly.

  9. What an amazing trip to the ER. I know its the last place you wanted to be and I’m glad that your son is ok, but it sounds like it was a good trip in seeing your son interacting the way he did compared to the some of the other challenges he has in interactions with peers. I think sometimes those glimpses give us the hope that we need to hang on and believe for the best. The ER is of course never a good place to be but I’m glad for the lessons you learned there and what your son revealed about himself there too.

  10. Hospital trips are so very scary. I’m glad his had a good outcome, and you were able to find the silver lining in those clouds.

  11. It’s like he knew something was wrong but didn’t know how to describe it to you. So he was willing to let whomever figure it out.

  12. It’s difficult to see our kids in pain and not know exactly what is happening! I am so glad he was ok! Visiting from the SITS Sharefest this morning!

  13. Kids can definitely be the most amazing and resilient little pumpkins! Have a great weekend! Stopping by from the show off weekend party!

  14. Children are amazingly resilient. My daughter has been hospitalized over 100 times in her lifetime. We have seen and become friends with multiple kids with life threatening chronic illnesses. they are strong, brave, couragous, outgoing, and incredibly loving. I hope your son feels better very soon.

    ~Lorelai

    Hopping by from the Weekly Creative Link Party! 🙂

  15. Boy, those ear infections can be sneaky sometimes. I’m glad that’s all it was, but so sorry for him too. The pain must have been just awful.

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