I am writing this blog entry so that I don't have to repeat the story another hundred times. It is really hard to write and to relive the events that occurred yesterday.
Yesterday started out like any other day. Babies waking up and smiling, giggling at each other, and playing. My dad came over early because him and Dale are adding to our paver patio. After the twins woke up from their morning naps, I took them outside and sat them in their exersaucers in the shade to watch. They had a blast. Ryan enjoyed watching PopPop and Daddy work and Leah just let her tongue feel the breeze (if you are around Leah you know what that means..she loves her tongue out and especially in the wind...rather dog like hahaha). Then it was lunch time and I brought them both in and made some lunch. Ryan ate like a champ (what else is new). Leah ate but just wasn't herself. I didn't force the food on her and figured she would make up for it at dinner. She started whining so I thought she could use a nap.
I started shutting windows because I was going to put the air conditioner on. Leah just sat on my hip and watched.
Then.... I layed her in her crib because I wanted her to possibly talk herself to sleep. I started to walk out of her nursery to go close a window in my room. As I walked out I heard her take a deep breath in. I knew she was about to have a fit that I layed her down. But I continued to my room. But I didn't hear her crying. Something was wrong. There was no way she fell asleep that fast. I rushed in and saw in legs up in the air as if they were tensed and starting to slowly come down. I rushed to her crib and she was not breathing. I picked up her completely lifeless body and tried to get her to respond. Nothing worked. I was blowing in her face, yelling her name, shaking her. I called for my dad and Dale. She was still not breathing. I called for them again as her limp body laid in my hands. Her face was turning colors that I never ever wanted to see on my child. Her eyes and lips were blue.
Finally Dad and Dale got upstairs while Ryan was still in his highchair downstairs. I handed Leah to dad and he tried getting her to come to with no success. He started CPR while I dialed 911. He gave her a few rescue breaths and she started breathing but still was limp. It is the most aweful heart wrenching thing to look down the hallway at your daughter who is usually smilling back at you, just laying there limper than a rag doll. Finally she cried but it was a strange cry.
The first officer got there and my dad still held Leah trying to keep her awake and breathing. Dale had gotten Ryan. Finally we went downstairs as the Ambulance arrived. I was holding my precious girl in my arms now but she was not herself. But thankfully she was crying. I walked outside and realized the severity of the situation when I saw multiple cop cars in our circle, an ambulance in front of my house and my neighbor at the end of the drive way with a concerned look on his face.
We were taken to Grandview where they got Leah stabilized. Of course now we realized we should have gone to Doylestown because Grandview does not have a ped ER. DUH! But why the EMT didn't tell us that, who knows.
Leah was exhausted and every time she fell asleep another tech or doctor was in to get vitals or assess her.
The worst part was attempting to get her blood drawn. I had to leave the room. I heard her cries that just broke every ounce of strength I had. Somehow I managed to keep some strength and not fall apart in the hallway. They failed to get her blood so they called the IV team in. Well that was a waste! Dale had to to tell the women to STOP and that Leah was not a pin cushion. She just kept poking Leah trying to get a vein. She failed big time. But She was able to get an IV port in Leah's hand in the case she would need and IV. (Thankfully she never did. Having her arm immobilized was so sad.)
Finally the CHOP ER doc at Grandview was able to resort to a rather unconventional way of pricking her foot and having the blood drip out that way. HORRIBLE!!!! My poor little Leah just cried the saddest cry I ever heard.
She also had an EKG and a chest x-ray done, both of which were normal.
After hours in the ER at Grandview, we took an Ambulance to CHOP so they could evaluate her. We sat in the CHOP ER for about 4 or 5 hours. Leah finally got a room around 1:30am. She was happy as a clam at this point. Laughing at Daddy and enjoying her late night up with just Mommy and Daddy.
She finally passed out as did Mommy and Daddy for about an hour or two. Leah slept great. She didn't have another episode.
All of the CHOP doctors she saw agreed that her episode was not related to her VSD (heart issue). After sorting through the details they narrowed it down to three possibilities.
1. Seizure - sounds like a seizure except I cant remember if she was shaking when i picked her up out of the crib.
2. Reflux - it is possible that she had a reflux episode while inhaling and the body's response was to shut down causing her to pass out
3. Breath Holding Fit - believe it or not, they think this is the most likely case giving her becoming baseline about 2 hours after the incident. Babies can hold their breath to the point of passing out. This is usually preceeded by a crying fit which Leah didnt have but they still think this is most likely the problem.
So we got discharged today Sunday around 10am I am guessing (I can't really remember). When we got home Ryan was still at my parents. I am so thankful to be home. With both of my children.
My dad was my hero before this incident. But now he is also a lifesaver and hero to Leah. Not sure what would have happened if he weren't here. Dale and I plan on getting CPR certified in the next week or two.
So that's the story. Quite an emotional roller coaster. I took a nap this afternoon and kept reliving the horror of picking Leah up and her not breathing. I have a feeling I will be having nightmares and not sleeping for the next few weeks.
Thank you all for your prayers. Le Le is now sleeping peacefully in her own crib with her brother just a few feet away. Perfection.
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| Leah at Grandview |
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| Leah after a few hours at Grandview. Playing with her ID bracelet. |
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| EXHAUSTED after she finally got in her room at CHOP |
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| Back to herself and ready to break free of this joint! |
