Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Just when we thought they were a thing of the past.

Sunday morning started out pretty ordinary I guess. I woke up not feeling well, which wasn't a surprise since I have had a case of the flu a few days prior. Corky was at church meetings already so I was going to get my girls ready for church, head to Sacrament meeting, then I would come home and rest while everyone else stayed at church. When the girls woke up, I knew immediately Emily wasn't feeling well either. She had a fever and no appetite at all. I then decided that I would stay home with her while Corky would come pick Gracey up before church started.

I walked out of the bathroom with Gracey, where I was helping her do her hair. I took one look at Emily and immediately knew she was having a seizure. She had a blank, glazed over stare, and would not react in the slightest to my words. I ran over, knelt down in front of her,and holding her face in my hands, I just started talking to her. I had my phone by me so I called Corky. I knew he was in a meeting and wouldn't pick up the first time, but would realize it was urgent if I called a second. I know my husband so well because that is just what happened! I told him Em was having a seizure and he left the church right away and was home in about 2 minutes.

At this point Emily was still seizing, foaming a little at the mouth, and somewhat flailing her arms, trying to gain control. Corky opened the door and I wrapped her up in the blanket she was sitting on, realizing then that she had urinated. I asked Gracey to grab me some shoes and we were off. I sat in the back of the car holding Emily, while Corky drove the 2-3 miles to the emergency room.

She had a fever of 102 degrees and so that was the first thing that we needed to take control of. Fevers can make just about anyone have a seizure, but with her seizure disorder, she is even more susceptible. As she became more alert her bahvior became more normal. She tried to talk to us and also was trying to kick Gracey! We knew she was feeling much better and we were so grateful!




After a seizure, there is a time where the brain is trying to "wake up" and it can make the person act a little drunk. Emily was no different. She tried to eat the cotton ball that was used when they were administering her IV and she tried multiple times to have the doctor hold her, which I think he thought was kind of cute. I drove home to get her a change of clothes and my purse, so I will have to have Corky sit and write down anything else that I am not remembering I heard while I was gone.



She was feeling much better and got her appetite back, so the nurse brought some apple sauce for both girls, which Emily scarfed down in about 5 bites!



It was a stressful few hours but looking back, I am really grateful for the wake up call it was. Even though she had an EEG done a few months ago and we continue to give her anti-seizure medicine, we didn't really think we would experience this again. Now we know to continue educating ourselves, teaching Gracey what to do, and even start teaching Emily the symptoms so that she might be able to know that one is coming.

I was proud of all of us on Sunday for staying as calm as we did. Watching Emily go through that is no easy thing, but when you are educated, it is easier to stay calm. I knew that as long as she didn't have any foreign objects blocking her airway, she would continue to breathe. I also knew, probably above anything else, that Gracey was going to react in the same manner that I did, so I felt an even greater responsibility to stay calm and collected. Gracey will most certainly remember this, and I didn't want her to remember chaos or panic.

Just like anyone who takes a CPR class, you hope you never have to do it. Corky and I were scared, for sure, but we also felt prepared. We just really hope to never have to go through that again, mostly for Emily's sake, More than anything, we are SO GRATEFUL that Emily is doing well! We are grateful for modern medicine and knowledge of what is going on in that sweet, little brain of hers!

She came home about 3 hours after entering the hospital. As if our day wasn't crazy enough up to that point, that afternoon we got a new puppy (that deserves its own post), and Emily was playing dress ups like any other day! We love her and are so glad she is doing well!




Her and I are driving to Tulsa this afternoon to meet with her neurologist, so we will keep you posted.

16 comments:

Joyce Madsen said...

You are all my heroes! Gracey and Em will grow up with deeper characteristics because of this. It's tough to be so far away on a normal day let alone on a morning like Sunday. My heart always stops when Morgan calls and says, "Mom, everything is alright, BUT;” I stayed calm until sacrament meeting, then I lost it! (Hopefully nobody noticed). I always get a headache when I hold in my cry! Yes, I had a doozie! I was ok to teach my young women's lesson after I got a smily picture of Emily on my phone.

karolyn said...

I love this story - the strong and capable Whipple women! Potent lessons for Gracey. You and Corky are doing an amazing job with these two beautiful powerhouses.

That said, did you read about the two little sisters (about Gracey and Emily's ages) who were upstairs playing when their house caught fire? The girls knew exactly what to do - check the door for heat, climb out the window onto the shed roof. It was the mom who paniced and was burned running through the fire to save her girls. They interviewed the little girls on the news and they were so "matter of fact" that I just wanted to squeeze them. Wow, the power of education.

So happy that all is well. It will be nice to get some reassurances from the neurologist, I'm sure.

Love to you all, K

Skyler and Bailey said...

I already basically texted you everything I would comment on here but I just wanted to leave a P.s. Emilys hair is so dang long! So cute!

The Swensons said...

What a crazy day--so glad to hear she is ok--I still remember the first seizure she had years ago. I don't think I could have handled either as good as you. You guys are awesome!

Chrissi said...

What a crazy day! I'm so happy that Emily is ok and back to her normal spunky self. Keep the updates coming!

Jessica said...

So glad she is fine, YOu and Corky are the best for her, love her makeup, that's about how I look when I try to put on makeup;) Also very curious about your puppy, the kids and I are trying to convince Lance to get one, but his big holdup is having to find someone to watch it wen we loeave town..

Pam from Over the Big Moon said...

So scary and no fun. So glad it wasn't worse. Keep us posted!

Here hair is seriously gorgeous!

SmashleyB said...

You are such a strong family!! Glad she is doing better! xoxo

Kristen said...

You are such a good mom, Morgan. I am impressed with you being able to stay calm during all of it, I'm not sure I would have. She is such a beautiful girl! And I can't believe how long her hair is.

Amy said...

Oh my goodness! Glad that little princess is doing better! She is so adorable! You are such an incredible mother and I love you guys to pieces! Sending hugs and prayers your way!

jaesi said...

okay Im way late looking at this (dang private blogs)
but so sad! You seem to keep your calm so well. I dont even have a clue to how I would react to something like that.

She is soooo darling!

Emma said...

You amaze me. I got all tense just reading this, I can't imagine watching your little one go through something like this. I hope you guys can find the answers you need.

and her hair, so pretty!

Recovery Guru said...

So dang scary!! I am so sorry that you guys have to deal with this. It is no fair to have our little kids have these problems, especially when there is nothing we can do to stop it. Good luck at the doctors, and way to be staying calm and collected during a scary situation.

Aubrey said...

Wow Morgan! How scary. You guys are amazing. I'm so happy that she is okay and that she is feeling better. That has to be a difficult thing to witness. What great parents she has.

Annalisa said...

it can't be easy...you did a great job at staying calm and it is really a blessing that you live that close to the er. your daughters are beautiful!

Jessica said...

Oh bless her heart. I can't imagine how scary that would be. I think you are a wonderful mother and person. I only wished we lived closer to each other.