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Bad Stuff Going Down
By bbrown | September 28, 2006
I’m posting this from Phoenix Children’s Hospital as Madeline lies sedated in the pediatric ICU. Phew, that’s quite an opening sentence, isn’t it!
It all started around 7:30 AM this morning. Madeline and Annie (or Kimberly, I can’t remember which one Sandi said) were tickling each other on our couch. Madeline was laying on her sister and then rolled off onto the carpeted floor. She landed on her head like she’s done countless times before and Sandi came over from the other couch to comfort her.
Only Madeline started taking deep, deep breaths and holding them. After a few of those, they became shallow and short. Along with that rapid breathing, she started having seizures and her arms and legs were convulsing. Sandi called 911 immediately and then called me. I called back after a couple minutes to find out that the paramedics were taking her here and so I left as soon as I got off the phone. I ended up beating the ambulance, which was nice, although I thought I would be way behind it from the morning commute traffic.
The emergency room was filled with 15 people, all buzzing around our little girl. They took X-rays, had a breathing tube down her throat, put in an IV, and stabilized her so she could be moved to the PICU. She then had a CT scan, which appears normal as far as anyone has told us.
They had trouble stabilizing her once she got down to the PICU and our little baby had another 15-20 people hovering over her trying to stop her seizures and figure out what she needed. Like the first set of seizures, she was posturing now and the neurologists were concerned by this because, as they later told us, she shouldn’t be doing that.
Right now, she’s undergoing an EEG and will have an MRI this afternoon. The doctors are all puzzled as to why such an innocuous fall has caused such behavior. I’ll update later as we know more.
(Sandi, as you might expect, is beside herself. She, like me, doesn’t understand why this spill led to this. Mimi’s not exactly accident-prone, but she’s also not delicate. I appreciate all the support we’ve had so far this morning from friends and family. Most of it, frankly, I didn’t expect since you’re all so busy with your own lives. It is very heartening and I will be sure to thank each and every one of you personally when we get through this—which won’t be today and might be tomorrow.)
Topics: Madeline | 12 Comments »
September 28th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Oh my goodness!!! This is scary. PLease know that your family is in our prayers. Prayers also for the doctors to figure out what is going on.
September 28th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
We are thinking of you all nonstop. I can’t imagine what you both must be feeling right now. Prayers for Mimi and (((hugs))) for all of you.
September 28th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
HOW scary! I will definitely pray for God’s healing hand on Mimi. That does seem so strange that she would be having such a bad reaction. Hang in there!
September 28th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
We are lifting Mimi up in prayer.Please know you are all in our thoughts,in our prayers and will continue to be.
September 28th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
I am praying so hard for you all right now. I wish there were more I could do. I just can’t imagine. Wish I were there to hug you all.
September 28th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
This is so very scary. I can’t imagine how terrified you all must be. My prayers are with you.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Sandi & Bill,
I’m so sorry to read about this! Poor baby girl. You are both such strong people and that’s what she needs to get her thru it. I am praying for you all. My daughter’s inlaws have a grandbaby that was a victim of shaken baby syndrome (I know this is not Madeline’s case) and they gave her a 50-50 chance and THE GOOD NEWS IS she came thru it and is totally normal again! Prayers are powerful and babies are resilient and I will be sending up lots of prayers for Madeline.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
Sandi…. Mimi, you and your whole family are in my prayers! I can’t even begin to imagine what you have gone through. And your precious baby… here’s to the doctors getting down to the bottom of this all.
Call me if you need or want to talk.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very scary time. I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through right now. I will say extra prayers tonight for Mimi.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Bill and Sandi,
My prayers are with you and little Mimi. The kids are praying for Mimi as well.
September 28th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Sandi and Bill,
Please know that little Mimi and you all are in our prayers. You have such a strong family and I know you will get through this. My prayers are with you. Please let me know if you need anything at all.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:08 am
[...] One year ago today our lives were shaken by a seizure. Madeline was forever changed in the blink of an eye. All that was taken for granted was seen in a new light. [...]