He labored for each breath, and momma was concerned. He sucked in the air as a desert traveler would water. The skin around his ribs would concave as he tried to breathe. And he was wheezing.
He wasn’t smiling, eating, or drinking. He looked like he’d worked a twenty-hour day splitting wood. And he was grunting. It was the strangest thing.
We ended up in the emergency room. His breathing was fifty percent. His oxygen was in the low eighties. And since he wasn’t drinking anything, he was dehydrated.
They attempted to put the IV in but were not successful. He screamed and cried and tried to get away from the nurses. He was bleeding on the sheets. They were finally able to try a second time, and it was successful.
Because he was struggling to breathe, they put him on oxygen. He didn’t like those short rubbery prongs going up his nose. I don’t know how many times he pulled it off his face. Each time, the tape they used to keep it there would rip off of his face, causing more crying.
He had bronchiolitis. Symptoms include: being unable to breathe easily, and the ribs will suck inward while breathing; making wheezing sounds; slow-movement, weakness, and tiredness; and grunting.
Because his oxygen was so low (at one point, it was 75%), they said he needed to stay the night so they could monitor him. We weren’t expecting that. We thought they would send us home with breathing treatments. They made that decision after five hours in the ER.
I was holding him in the ER, and he finally fell asleep. Soon after, they let us know that the room was ready upstairs. I had to get on the gurney, and they wheeled me and Son #2 past everybody and their brother while my expectant wife walked behind us. My feet hung off the end of the gurney.
Mr. Tech-Nurse-Guy backed the rolling bed into the elevator. I had to pull my feet out of the way so the door would close.
We hadn’t had any supper, so I went to McDonald’s and pulled up to the drive-thru at 10:59. I ordered and pulled to the second window. Then I noticed all the light’s being turned off. They closed at 11:00. I apologized to them. I didn’t realize what time they closed. But it was the hottest and freshest fast food I’d ever had.
This morning, the doctor decided he needed to stay another day to ensure he was getting enough air. He was still struggling to breathe. He needed to keep his oxygen levels up, only breathing room air.
Today around eleven, he started feeling much better. He wasn’t struggling as much. He got better and better throughout the day. He started acting like himself again. He was smiling and eating and drinking. He drank three or four bottles of milk and ate some tater tots and chicken.
I believe it was the prayers that made the difference. They gave him some antibiotics last night and kept him on oxygen, but not much else. I know it helped, but I know about the power of prayer. And how God moves when we ask Him to help.
Thank you for praying for our baby boy! We appreciate your concern and prayers.
One of the songs going through my mind has been the one written by Annie Johnson Flint.
“He giveth more grace as our burdens grow
greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase
To added afflictions, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half
done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”
to those receiving help from above,
– Caleb
caneymountainblog.com 