Big Scare from our Little Guy

I'm not quite sure how to describe this little episode and make you understand how scary it was for me. On Wednesday night, I had just finished feeding Bryson. He sometimes has projectile spit up and I could hear him gurgling a bit like one was coming on. Sure enough... he spit up quite a bit, but then started coughing and gagging like he had more that he couldn't get out. He was coughing and gagging and then stopped breathing for a couple seconds, then started coughing and gagging again. It would have been fine if it was only that one time, but he did it again and again. I frantically held him on his belly patting his back. Nic realized what was going on and came over. Bryson would stop breathing and I'd just keep patting his back saying, "Come Bryson, come on. Breath buddy, breath!" I kept saying silent, pleading prayers. This cycle of coughing, gagging, not breathing... lasted for 5-7 minutes when Nic called a nurse that lives in our ward. Thankfully she rushed over, using that little blue bulb syringe, she tried to get gunk out of his throat, but it was too far down to reach. At one point Bryson went very limp and pale for longer than a couple seconds. I said, "He's not breathing... He's not breathing! Is he?!" She listened to him and thankfully he was breathing very lightly. She recommended that we take him to the on call doctor at our pediatricians if possible or to an insta-care right away. She volunteered to take Hannah with her. It was 7:45 and our pediatrician clinic closed at 8:00. Nic, Bryson and I headed to the doctors. Of course (and thankfully) by the time we got there Bryson was fine. The doctor just looked him over and that was pretty much it. He said if he'd stopped breathing for longer they would have wanted to admit him to the hospital for observation, but didn't feel that was necessary. I asked, "What do I do if this happens again?!" He said, "Nothing." I was thinking, 'Great! Thanks for the help!' He said there really isn't much you can do. He suggested saline drops to help loosen the mucus and using the bulb syringe in the back of his throat, but that's it. I'm still glad we went to the doctors though just for my own peace of mind. I slept much better (although, I did have dreams of him not breathing). We went and picked up Hannah, who was having a wonderful time. We are so indebted and grateful to this wonderful woman and friend who came over and helped... including taking Hannah!

There were several moments when I felt the tears coming on, but I knew I couldn't let them or I would break down. It wasn't until about an hour after the whole episode, when Hannah was in bed and I knelt down by Bryson, who was asleep, and said a prayer of thanks that I cried. I hadn't known what to do. How grateful I am that it wasn't any worse or had any lasting effects! Really it was such a simple thing that was so huge to me and my little world! I had felt so helpless. In this world we are often helpless, relying solely on our Heavenly Father and His help. Boy am every thankful for His help and watchful eye!