Mason in ICU - Acute Asthma Attack

Friday, August 20. (this may be boring, but it's a journal for me!)

Since Dublin, we all noticed our allergies to be worse.  Especially Mason.  He was not feeling good and would voluntarily take naps.  Friday evening Mason started to have trouble breathing, his chest was visibly trying to work each breath, and a deep chesty cough.  We quickly figured out where the hospital was and Ruben took him into emergency at 11:30PM.  The sweetheart as he was leaving, told me, "Don't worry mommy, I'll be ok."  But he wasn't.  He went downhill fast from 1am to 4am, good thing he got to the hospital when he did.  The biggest worry was it was so difficult for him to breath, that the Doctors were worried he would give up trying to breath.  (Choking up now thinking of it again, too scary.  Now I understand the seriousness of asthma like never before.)  Ruben didn't let me know the seriousness of it until Saturday, I guess one of us had to get some sleep, even if it was only 4 hours for me due to worry and waiting for calls from Ruben.  Oh when you wish you could be in 2 places at once, but I had 2 children at home that were sick with allergies too.  

At first they thought is pneumonia due to a viral infection, but after 3 chest x-rays returned with no issues, they said it was an acute asthma attack.  He was seen by 4 doctors including 2 anesteisologist before 4:30 am when they moved him into intensive care.  He was in ICU for 2.5 days, where he had a nurse with him 24x7.  Ruben was also there 85% of the time.  Mason was on oxygen, with back to back nebulizer treatments, on antibiotics for respiratory infection, on steroids for the inflammation in his lungs and pain medication.  

No children are allowed, but we snuck Chase in for 2 minutes on Saturday where they said "I love you" to each other with a hug and smile, and on Sunday he stayed for a few hours.  Most of the hospital staff had to come by to check out the cuteness of the two!  Mason was well loved, a favorite patient, their youngest in the ICU in quite some time!  Mason didn't notice the separation as much as Chase.  He was one lonely boy, their longest separation to date.  When he woke in the mornings, he'd just ask over and over, "when can I see Mason."  The reunions were sweet.

Our sister workers Laura Armstrong and Julie Fulton had just arrived in the field, so they came and stayed from Saturday until Thursday, and I am soooo soooo grateful they could be here.  They took turns sitting with Mason as well, and I got some naps in.  The boys love them to bits!  Mason told me "I think they love us too!"  When you just want your mom or mother-in-law, but that not being possible, it was nice to have them here!

Mason is doing good now.  Not back to normal, but getting there.  He came home with antibiotics and 2 inhalers to take.  1 long term, the other (ventiline) was short term but for emergency cases now.  He still seeks constant attention which isn't always easy, so another reason why it was so good to have Laura and Julie.  Ruben had to go to Russia for a few days after it all, we managed okay with the extra help!

The star patient!

Nurse Ann in the ICU on days.  She loved him, was sad saying goodbye!

Once in Paediatrics, Chase got meals too!

Madelynne liking her brothers balloons!