Our ER Adventure

Thursday night started just like any other night. Jonathan had a diaper rash and had had a runny nose for a few days, nothing too unusual. We put him in bed around 7:45, enjoyed some TV and prepped his food for the next day.

Right before I was going to head upstairs at about 10:15, I heard a funny rhythmic sound on the monitor. Could that be Jonathan's breathing?? It had never sounded like that before. I ran upstairs to check him out and he was still asleep, but wheezing and squeaking in the weirdest way. He was struggling to breathe.

I decided to wake him up, thinking if I held him upright, it would get better, or maybe it was just a matter of suctioning out his nose and all would be fine.

Wrong.

He opened his eyes, looked at me with panic on his face and continued to wheeze and gasp for air. At this moment, Jeremy could hear the new, louder gasping and was running up the stairs as I came down them.

I dialed 911. Jonathan looked panic-stricken. He sounded like his windpipe was almost completely blocked. I thought about food allergies and anaphylactic shock. I could barely communicate with the operator while Jeremy held Jonathan.

The longest time passed - maybe 5 minutes but it felt like forever - before the paramedics got here. I rode with Jonathan in the ambulance while Jeremy drove.

Jonathan was such a brave boy. But honestly, I think he would have been wailing if he could have - he literally couldn't make any noises other than the gasping.

We got to the ER at about 11 and were able to see a doctor by 11:45. The diagnosis: croup.

Croup is caused by a virus and causes a barky cough (which Jonathan barely had due to the breathing issues) and a constricted airway. While it can be serious, it usually isn't.

After a dose of a steroid, his breathing returned close to normal. He snuck a little smile at the doctor. He showed a little interest in chewing his rings. And finally, we knew all was well when we heard that sweet little voice - "bababa."

We were home by 12:30. Ultimately, not a terrible ER experience although I am sure we will feel differently when we get the bill.

We were so relieved it wasn't a food allergy. Or him choking on something.

Today he is somewhat better - just very sleepy, running a low-grade fever and little appetite.

But last night, in those few minutes between getting him out of bed and the arrival of the paramedics, we felt a level of terror we never want to feel again.


Jonathan in the ambulance


Jonathan checking out the check-in desk at the hospital