Update from Royal Childrens' Hospital

It's Friday we've been here now since Tuesday night. 

He's been up and walking. I showered him and he ate a bowl of coco pops for breakfast. These things sound so positive but he's oh so miserable. The tube is also gone. He was so brave as that was being removed. We are here until at least Monday. 

I have just found out that there's a lot of white still on his chest X-ray. It could be infection or it could be more fluid. He's developed a temperature too which isn't good. A doctor will come and check up on him later. 

Family Update

I can't even remembered what if anything I've posted about Billy-Joe's. I know if I don't post now, everything will blur. 

Sunday morning Billy-Joe awoke and came in to see me saying that he was in a lot of pain and was having trouble breathing. I sat with him for a few minutes. Saw how puffed he was and the level of pain he was in and I rang the ambulance. I've never had to do that before. We were taken to NGH. From here on in I'll write in dot point. 

.given ventolin in ambulance even though I knew it wasn't asthma
. Gave him oxygen and pain relief
. Took a chest x ray which was clear

. We were sent home 5 hours later. I was told it was muscular. 
. Billy-Joe rested all afternoon on my bed with me
.  Took kids to school and Billy-Joe to GP

. She rang ambulance immediately.  She said he either had a punctured lung or pneumonia
. He was placed on oxygen
. Given pain relief in hospital
. Took another chest X-ray 
. Diagnosis Pneumonia (One for Andrea Norton)

. Started immediately on IV antibiotics 
. Took blood gases 
. Admitted to Childrens' Ward 2pm

. Took a new chest X-ray
. Pneumonia has worsened fluid on the lung which has happened rapidly. 
. Moved to 1D because of bed shortage. 

. I went home and was called back as they were going to aspired
. Couldn't aspirate as it was all in pockets. 

. Were told we needed to go to RCH as they would drain the fluid. He had Pleural Effusion)

. Went home packed and went back
. Arrived Brisbane 9pm
. Saw many doctors including Respiratory Specialist. (who said he believed Billy-Joe doesn't have asthma) 
. We were finally taken to a ward at 3am
. Billy-Joe finally given string pain relief and he slept from then on and for much of the next day. 

. Woke up he wasn't in too much pain. Looking forward to feeling better after surgery
. Saw loads of people. Doctors, med students, nurses, nursing students, Specialist, even a professor. 
.Went into Theatre 12.30am

. I got to shower and even slept. 

.Billy-Joe back from theatre 3.40pm

.He's comfortable. Another X-ray shows that fluid is reduced. 

. He has a morphine pump. He's very comfortable and sleeping. He has a nasal gastric tube. 

We will wait and see what tomorrow brings. He should start getting better now that the fluid is going. The drain is still in and will remain for another couple of days.  

His concern for me and his appreciation for me being with him is so overwhelming for me. He has received so many compliments about his behaviour. I've been complimented on bringing up such a beautiful boy. I am so proud of him. 

He is just the most amazing boy such a great patient too. 





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Addendum

Just some thoughts to add to today.

I've focussed on the happenings of today and the last week or so. Tonight, while having dinner I was able to speak my thoughts with Peter and he added some more and made us realize this isn't as isolated as I'd originally thought.

Readers of my blog may remember that we've been worried about him for some time. Nothing has improved and even though the pediatrician's appointment has taken ages to be organized I'm so glad it's this week.

He's 14, nearly 15 and eats like a bird. Mickey eats more than he does and is five years younger than Billy-Joe. At almost 15 he should be eating us out of house and home. He's small too, too small.

He's got a huge heart and he's tough but he's got no resilience. His body is bruised from one end to the other. Mind you he doesn't look that much better when he's not had a footy game. I've had bloods done before as I was concerned something more sinister was afoot.

I've always pushed for more assessment to be done from where his asthma is concerned. He's always chesty sounding with a permanent wet cough and yet his chest is always clear. He can't even laugh without his body being racked by a cough, laughter quickly dying.

I pray I'm reading too much into these symptoms. But I've put these thoughts on the back burners for long enough.

Thank you to my family and my friends for your well wishes and prayers. Billy-Joe feels very blessed to be surrounded by so much love. Thank you.

A Trip to Hospital

I sit here on my bed, feeling a little numb, feeling sad, feeling grateful and strangely enough, with a strong sense of peace too.

At 7am, Billy-Joe woke me up to say he was having problems breathing. He had a heat pack and I new that his muscular problem from a week ago had come back. I laid back down, cursing the fact I'd allowed him to play football on Friday. I quickly reassessed the situation, flew out of bed, and, within five minutes had dressed and rung the ambulance. A part of me felt ridiculous for ringing, but for the most part, I knew it was my only option. I couldn't have moved him, he couldn't walk, he was chalky white, with a green tinge, and his lips were white, he was not well. I didn't think he was cyanosed, but felt it was not within my experience to be 100% sure.

The paramedics were quick. I'd woken Mickey who went and got Peter and then the ambos arrived. They took him to hospital, put him on oxygen and then a nebulizer even though I was sure it wasn't asthma, but it was a safeguard. I'd never ever seen him in so much pain. He was so good. Never flinched even when he was cannulated.

After a quick assessment, even a mobile chest x-ray, we knew he didn't have a collapsed lung, or pneumonia, which were my first thoughts.

After two morphine shots, his pain levels were tolerable, and then low enough for him to be comfortable. We remained in hospital for five hours, he was under constant observation and hooked up the whole time. He vomited and his temperature went up a bit too.

I'm not sure what this all means. To me, yes, there could be a pulled muscle, but then it's been good all week, and didn't hurt during or after his football game. He's bruised on all his limbs from the game, too bruised for my way of thinking, and for the pain to be so great that he can't take full breathes seems excessive to me. His appointment with the paediatrician is on Wednesday, finally.

He coped well, probably because I was calm and that helped him. Nothing soothes a child more than a Mum who's calm in a situation which much have been very scary for him.

Me, I coped alright too, even on the inside. It's now I don't feel so good. But I've always been like that, good in a crisis, not so good later on. I didn't pray at all while this was going on. I felt peace though, and still do. I knew Billy-Joe was in the good hands of the hospital staff and in the Good Lord's hands too. My role was to be there to comfort and hold..........

I didn't cry until I read something from Barbi's email, and after I'd spoken to my Mum.

He's sleeping and I'm enjoying the quiet and solitude in my room.

Not long after we arrived.

Much more comfortable.