Rehab Recap
This entry was posted on 2/14/2007 9:54 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
February 14, 2007
We started the day with one of the shortest posts ever, but we're finishing the day with one of the longest posts ever. It's the recap of our week in the hospital.
This all started Super Bowl Sunday when Quinn was being fussy. We blamed it on teething and of course were wrong. It was in fact RSV and the next day Quinn went to the doctor. He was sent home with instructions to stay home. The physician's assistant said Quinn probably had RSV. Well, later in the day Quinn was taking 95 breaths a minute when he was supposed to be taking 45. Jenny read a book and found out that was bad. We called my mom, a nurse, and she said take him back. We saw another doctor and she sent him to Rogue Valley Medical Center's pediatric unit.
Quinn was so sick and hungry, but the doctor wouldn't let him eat because he might choke due to his breathing.
He was so miserable. It didn't help when he got an IV put in. Jenny and I were crying watching him wail in pain. The IV kept him hydrated, but Quinn didn't get a full feeling from it.
Quinn got some sleep in this shot, but no one got much Monday night. Jenny and I stayed with him on a horribly uncomfortable cot in a very tiny room. The poor guy was constantly up with nurses and respiratory therapists giving him breathing treatments to open his lungs.
A fine mist came out Quinn could breathe in. If you notice the RT is wearing a mask and tarp. Everyone who entered the room (besides Jenny & I) had to have them on. There was a sign on the door that said so.
It's a proud moment for a parent when you child gets his first "Droplet Precautions" sign.
Quinn was feeling better by morning and was discharged.
Little did we know it was about to get worse. After going to get a nebulizer and Quinn's prescription we arrived home. I gave him a treatment, but he was still breathing fast.
I called the doctor and they said take him to the emergency room. So we headed back to RVMC.
Quinn wowed the staff with his physique. I was expecting a young intern to mistake him for Dr. McDreamy, but it didn't happen. He got another treatment and was admitted back to the hospital. At this point he was really starting to deteriorate.
I think that picture tells you how he was feeling. Quinn was put on oxygen and got some more treatments.
This time we were put in a big room.
This room was big and we got two beds as well as a nice chair. I had no idea we would be in it for the next six nights.
Jenny and I would stay over each night. I would go into work some mornings and Jenny somehow made it in for her normal shift. We spent a lot of time in the seat watching TV.
Did you hear Anna Nicole Smith died?
Quinn's breathing treatments got him riled up and that wasn't good. He would be so tired, but couldn't fall asleep. For about four hours a night we would hold him until he fell asleep.
He would usually wake-up an hour later for another treatment. It was a terrible cycle.
After a few days Quinn started getting better. The toys may have helped. Besides the ones we brought in from home the nursing staff gave him some.
His favorite was the piano.
He started working on his first symphony in here and it is impressive.
Over the weekend they gave him a hospital-issued exer-saucer.
He would get tired quickly, but he enjoyed it. It had springs so he could bounce. It also had plenty of things to gnaw on.
I hope they disinfected it.
On Sunday Quinn was taken off oxygen, but when he slept his oxygen saturation would drop to unhealthy levels. That forced the nurse to rig up a device using lamb, cup and tubing. She was like MacGyver. She turned the oxygen up and Quinn's saturation levels rose.
You can see the cup under the sheep.
Quinn also got the luxury of getting spot-checked for saturation, so we could unplug him. He moved to the comfy chair and looked out the window.
He enjoyed this.
By Sunday we were pretty sure we were going home Monday. No one in the medical field seemed very optimistic any other day, but Quinn was wireless (for the third time in his life, second in a week) and doing well. He was also in steroids, so that couldn't hurt.
Monday we got the good news. Quinn was free!
We were on our way home.
My mom arrived Tuesday to help us get back to normal.
Quinn likes his nurse and getting his treatments at home. We like it too.
TJC
Enjoy the visit with Mom, everyone should get a personal nurse!