Tragedy avoided, Miracle born. Part IIIA Story by GhiasquaredSo after the long ride to Orlando, we got to the children's hospital. Going up the elevator I was at once excited and scared. I had no idea what to expect. After finally getting to the ICU we donned the scrubs, hats, and booties and scrubbed our hands. The moment was upon me. Through a couple of doors we entered a semi darkened room, abuzz with many nurses. Sounds of beeps and blips, little lights of all colors upon many machines, greeted me. I then saw the cribs, most with oxygen tents. And little babies, some smaller than my hand, all with a single red glowing finger. Wires and tubes going everywhere, it was hard to see through the tears starting to form. Their were so many little lives here struggling against all odds. A nurse pointed to the little one with my name on the side. He was of normal size, unlike most here, in fact he was pretty good sized. But among all of the wires and tubes, I saw the lines running into the side of his neck, right where the arteries were. I felt a sense of wonder that this little guy was a part of myself and my wife, our little miracle. I am not ashamed that I cried that day, for I worried greatly that when I left it might be our last time together. Robert was on the ECMO machine for two weeks, and for another week he was weaned of a ventilator while in an oxygen tent. Our precious little survivor was released to us and we took him home. Of course the doctors warned us of the long road ahead. We both smoked at the time and that activity was now banned to outside the house. I spent many evenings with him in my arms those first few weeks he was home. We were both so thankful he had made it this far even though the doctors had thought he wouldn't. December 31 of that same year, we had the hardest moment yet. In the afternoon of that day Denise noticed that he was a bit lethargic and had a ashen tinge to his skin. We immediately called 911, of course explaining his history and what was going on. They were there in a matter of minutes, that seemed like hours. The fire rescue guys called an ambulance after taking his vitals. They arrived shortly an he was put into the back. My wife rode in the back with one of the EMTs while they allowed me to ride shotgun up front with the other. I have never been in a vehicle that large, going that fast in my life. The whole time I was nervous wreck and must have been showing it. The EMT driving had me run the siren, well the one that we hit at red lights to get everyone's attention, as he ran all of them. And thinking back I really should have been worried at the speed and the red lights, but I just wanted him to go faster. I could hear them in the back and the chatter of their radios relaying status to the hospital. Robert stopped breathing three times during that trip. They kept him for nine days, and really couldn't find anything wrong. He was in an oxygen tent and on antibiotics, they merely concurred that this one amongst many trips we would endure. Well they were wrong. Although he was monitored for a few years after that, he never had any more problems. He has grown up healthy and normal. He currently is a sophomore in high school, and is in an IB honors program. He gets good grades, plays junior varsity football, and is still very healthy. At almost six foot tall and about two-hundred thirty pounds or so he's a big boy, almost as big as his dad. I told him by his senior year he would be bigger than me. © 2010 Ghiasquared |
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Added on March 31, 2010 Last Updated on March 31, 2010 AuthorGhiasquaredOcala, FLAboutI'm forty something and have always been a dreamer. Recently I decided to write again and share some of my dreams, realities and nightmares... more..Writing
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