I still can't believe where I was two years ago...
I was lying in the ICU of the University of Utah in a coma. Feeding tube down my throat. EEG wires making my hair look Madusa. Branch playing Christmas music and Frank Sinatra so I could hear it Branch wanted to spend every second he could with me. At night he didn't even leave the hospital, he went down to the burn unit and slept on a wall! Mom brought me a metal Christmas tree for my room. The rest of my family visiting when they could.
Meanwhile, Little Miss got to spend a lot of time playing with her cousins. I think Cedar fell in love with her...She was immediately weaned from breastfeeding and did incredibly well. She was able to go to two Christmas parties and even got to see Santa! Sorry the parties were so somber. My bad!
Before I was there I was really sick. I had woken up 2 weeks previously and preceded to throw up 8 times for the next several hours. I was so sick I took a pregnancy test! The next day I was fine, then started the whole process again. After going to the doctors and crying in the waiting room wanting my mommy, I was told it was an ear infection.
We flew to Utah the next week and made it to Green River, where I saw another doctor who said it was an ear infection. I could still touch my chin to my chest so they didn't think it was meningitis. Then the night of the 18th and morning of the 19th I went downhill. I don't remember much except we were staying downstairs at my sisters house, Little Miss was in the family room and I was throwing up and going in and out of consciousness. Jacob carried me upstairs and put me in the car while Branch sped to the ER at the U of U hospital. I do remember waking up once and telling Branch he was going to fast. That is so like me.
That is the last thing I remember for a couple of days. I am told that my sister Sarah met Branch at the hospital and was able to come back in the room with him, where...she was able to see me in all my glory...Sorry about that. I hope you can get that image out of your head Sarah! I also was told that my mom knew the Director or something like that of the ER, who was able to keep everyone updated and helped speed the process along.
I was put in medically incuded coma from Dec. 19th and was woken up on the 21st. I got to sleep for 3 days! As they were waking me up they had tied my hands to the bed so I wouldn't pull out any tubes or wires, but they didn't know how flexible I was and when no one was around I pulled "a gumby" as they said and took out the feeding tube. Luckily I didn't damage my vocal cords with that stunt! When I was more fully awake I remember being more sad that I missed the 2 family parties then I was about being in the hospital. I also remember I needed to pee and everyone kept telling me I had a catheter and I could just go, but I hate catheters and I really felt like I needed to pee. I think I said that about 50 times in an hour.
So as you know it turns out I had Viral Meningitis. It sucked. I wouldn't recommend it. But the point of this post is I want to point out some of the miracles that happened in this time.
*The fact that we were in Utah near a lot of family when I went downhill. Neither Branch or I had to ever worry about Little Miss.
*That mom knew the lady from the ER and were taken care of really fast at a great medical facility.
*Little Miss, who was only 8 months old at the time, was able to do so well considering.
*My mom fought for me when they were going to put my birthday wrong, which would have severally limited the financial help we were able to receive.
*That it was Viral instead of Bacterial...it could have been so much worse...
Anyway, sorry for some of the details...but they really happened. I have more I want to write about later. Thanks for reading!
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9 comments:
I guess that is one of those life experiences that changes things forever. Thank goodness for Christmas miracles though! Stay well this year, and don't drive either. You make me terribly nervous at this time of year.
I remember you going through it. I remember praying for you and worrying about you. But I never really heard any of the details. Wow, what a miserable, frightening time that was and how grateful we all are that you were able to pull out of it. Today you'd never know you had gone through all that! Just stay healthy now!
Did the little one get over her pneumonia and is she doing okay now?
That was your breathing tube you pulled out, not a feeding tube!! It's this BIG tube that goes down your throat, through your vocal cords, and into the lungs. They inflate a balloon that keeps it in place, and prevents (HA!) it being pulled out, because the balloon can tear the vocal cords if it's pulled out. Yes, we all experienced several miracles 2 years ago. And you forgot to mention the plane trip you got to take! You got worse again while you were in Green River, so you went by ambulance to the ER there, where you were stabilized and sedated. I was then pulled out of the room, and told that there was another patient who was much more critical than you, and who needed to get to the U quickly. I was told to choose who would go--my daughter, or the critical patient. The mom in me wanted to scream that you were there first and you should go. The nurse in me recognized that you were stable, and the other patient could die without quick treatment in Utah. Talk about a gut-wrenching decision. I told Buck (the ER doc) that the critical patient needed to go first, and you'd go on the plane or chopper that they were already sending. Then--another miracle--the flight team said there was room for 2 patients, but that meant no family could ride along. So Branch and I drove (quickly!) down. A whole series of miracles!
Emily, So sorry you had to go through that, but so glad you are better! I totally understand about the catheder. I hate them too! Thanks for sharing your story...even in hard times the Lord sends little blessings doesn't he?
Don't worry, I have no recolection of your "glory." I was a little to scared to think of anything like that. I remember the Doc's trying to get you to open your eyes. I remember them cutting everything off you and thinking that I was so glad they could get to what they needed quickly. (Later I remember thinking that YOU would probably be glad that I was in there instead of dad, but I don't think he would have seen anything except fear either.) I remember running to Branch to help get you out of the car, taking one look at you and knowing you had had a seizure. Scary!
I did once or twice think about kidnapping Little Miss and taking her home with me. Had we lived in driving distance I probably would have taken advantage of Branch's distraught mind and convinced him I would bring her back.
Really though, let's not do that again. The quiet life bight be a little boring sometimes, but I prefer it so much more!
Emily you are amazing. I love you and your little family. Merry Christmas.
I was randomly blog-surfing and came across your blog. I too had Viral Meningitis back when I was in 6th grade. I remember it like it was yesterday. A lot of the same symptoms as you...started with an ear infection. I am happy that you too had a good recovery.
I am so glad that you are okay and got through that awful time!!! The Lord helps us get through even the most difficult times, and most often through those around us :D I hope you are so excited for your new beautiful baby to come soon, and I hope you are feeling well!!! Thanks for sharing that post. It means a lot...makes me think of my brother and how blessed he is as well :)
Miracles do happen today
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