This past January we had our biggest scare as parents. My youngest Clara (not yet 2 at the time) had a severe case of RSV. What started out as a cold, turning into a Doctor's visit, then admittance to St.Francis, then ambulance ride to Children's hospital and finally 3 days of us at Children's PICU. It was incredibly scary...and overwhelming to watch your baby suffer RSV AND deal with tubes, IV's, oxygen, antibiotics and steroids. On the prayers of family and friends we left the hospital in 3 days instead of the 5-7 the Doctor's predicted. So thankful that we were in good hands and she improved instead of worsened while we there.
She came home her normal self and we thought it was a one time deal...until last week. On Thursday morning Clara woke up with a clear running nose so I decided to lay low and stay home. That night she woke up at 10pm with labored breathing so we did a Neb treatment at 12 and 4am...I sleep with her to monitor her breathing and make sure she didn't get worse. That morning we went to the doctor and her oxygen levels were way below where they should be (after doing another neb they were 89% when it should be 97% or higher) They weren't sure if she had pneumonia because her chest was so tight it was hard to hear anything. So, were drove straight to Children's and she was admitted in their Short Stay Unit until Saturday afternoon.
This last episode wasn't even close to being as scary as the first one, but now we're facing lots of tough choices and coming to grips that this wasn't a one time event with her...she may have breathing issues. The doctors want to treat her as an asthma patient, but I'm really hesitant. I know we need to do something because I want to keep going to the hospital with every cold.
Yesterday during a neb treatment I started praying for my little girl. I prayed for her complete healing and then had this thought, "I serve the God that breathed life into dust to create man." He is the breath of life. (Genesis 2:6-8 "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.") Without Him Clara does not have breath and I don't either. I found this scripture so comforting. He sustains us. I know He will walk us through this season of meeting with doctors and figuring out what's best for Clara. And with every step I'm going to be praying for the breath of life to fill her and heal her! I'm so thankful that I have that hope.
Have any of you walked this path already? I would love to her your thoughts and advise. Matt and I have a follow up appointment with our Pediatrician tomorrow and I want to ask the right questions. Can you help me?