My Scariest Moment...

Gavin has been sick off and on for what seems like forever and I was starting to get frustrated after what was about a week of a virus that struck all members of our household and what seems like the entire Northwest. I thought we had seen the worst of it when Gavin got a fever on Monday. I didn't think much of it by the time your child reaches 15 months and has been sick with a fever a few times you start to relax give a dose of Tylenol and/or Motrin and keep going. We ran out of Motrin and it was a close call at 7:30 or 8 when I checked his temp (102. 7) as to whether I could safely give him another dose of Tylenol so I waited patiently for Mike to bring back some Motrin. Gavin fell asleep in my lap at 8:15pm. I decided sleeping was good for him and I would wait and if he woke up in the night I would give him a dose of Motrin.

Mike and I were up later than usual and Mike had received a call at about 11:00 from a friend in need. At 11:10pm both Mike and I heard a loud and very bizarre gasping sound coming from Gavin's room. We both rushed in to find him convulsing and his limbs very rigid. I had heard of this happening to children when their fevers spike but I had never seen anything like it and nothing will prepare you for how shocking and scary it can be as a parent. I rushed him out into the hall on the floor while Mike called 911. The seizure lasted about 4 minutes and within 7 minutes 2 fire trucks and an EMT vehicle were parked outside and 10 - 12 emergency workers filed into our living room. Gavin had stopped seizing but was glassy eyed and not moving but breathing. Soon he started crying which put the emergency workers at ease. I was told to give him a dose of Motrin and given the option of a ride in the ambulance or drive to the ER. We opted for what would put Gavin more at ease, driving. We decided to pass the Valley Hospital which I am sure is a fine place but we were told that Sacred Heart has a pediatric ER which would help us be seen more quickly.

The drive to hospital seemed 10 times longer than the same trip we made a little more than a year ago to deliver Gavin. When we arrived we were asked to fill out the necessary paper work and shown quickly back to a room. The initial temperature, questions and monitoring were being done when we turned to a friendly voice. Mike had quickly ended the phone call he was on to call 911 and after prayers on Gavin's behalf our wonderful friend grabbed the much needed Starbucks and headed to meet us at the ER. I should mention I had taken a NyQuil right before all this happened, Starbucks was needed and if you know me I am not much of a coffee person but I was more happy than I have ever been at the sight of Starbucks.

We were moved to a more permanent room and while waiting for the doctors to come we visited with our friend that we hadn't seen in a while. We were quickly informed by the nurses that we were being called the "Happy" room since we were all talking, laughing and joking. After 31/2 hours and a few tests (including a catheter for poor Gavin) we were released from the hospital. Arriving at home with a very sleepy toddler at 3:30am.

Gavin had what was called a Febrile Seizure or fever induced seizure. Apparently after having one he is more likely to have them again. It can happen whenever a child between the ages of 5 months to 5 years fever spikes even as little as one degree quickly. It is speed with which it increases not the temperature degree. It only occurs in 15% (the ER doctor thinks it is more like 30% since it can happen while they sleep and no one could know) of children and they eventually out grow it. It does not mean they will develop epilepsy or any other seizure disorder.

For more information this is a great resource: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detail_febrile_seizures.htm