WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SICK

Danae has had on and off fever since Sunday. Not only that, it would spike to as high as 39.5, then disappear. What made it more weird was that Danae was active and she didn’t lose her appetite. She was a bit cranky of course, but that’s normal when kids are sick with cough and colds, which she was. On Wednesday, I already wanted to see her pulmonary pediatrician to make sure it was nothing to worry about, but the doctor’s schedule that day was already done when I called. That night, Danae had no fever. Thursday morning, she was feeling very well and we thought that was the end of it. She was warm to the touch, but she didn’t have a temperature. We thought we didn’t need to take her to the doctor anymore. When we came home that night from a date, she was crying because she had woken up from her sleep and wanted me (yes, even my almost-5-year-old is still clingy haha). Her nose was also bothering her, so we dealt with that with the meds we had. She fell asleep a while later.

She woke up around 3am yesterday morning for some reason, got up to pee, then started groaning. I woke up, felt her, and she was burning. Her temperature was back to 39.5! I gave her Ibuprofen, but I couldn’t take it anymore seeing that she was crying and feeling really bad. I asked King to take her to the emergency room. I wanted to go with them, knowing that Danae would want me beside her, but King insisted that I stay with Noelle, also so that in case Danae needed confinement, I could get our things ready and just follow to the hospital. Danae also understood this and willingly left without me. That was around 4am.

Worrying is exhausting! I was home, tired and sleepy, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept praying and thinking about my daughter. I kept thinking about Danae’s history with Pneumonia. Her first was when she was 11 months old. Her second was when she was 2 years and 10 months old. And now that she’s 4 years and 10 months old, she’s gonna get it again? Is this gonna happen every two years??? No way! I refused to believe that. I started getting angry at the disease and Satan himself. Why are Danae’s lungs being targeted? Why does Danae seem to have a lung thing? I don’t want her to have a lung thing! Was it because I smoked for 7 years that my daughter is suffering the consequences, reaping what I sowed? Lord, have mercy on my daughter! I claim healing over her lungs. I also started getting angry with myself. I should have insisted to go to the doctor when I felt she needed to be checked. I should have listened to my gut. I should have been more vigilant and on top of their sicknesses, even if it’s as minor as a cold. All these emotions and thoughts came up almost all at once. All this while going in and out of sleep, calling King, texting & posting on facebook for people to pray, and waiting for updates. Exhausting.

I was relieved to know that Danae didn’t need confinement, but when King showed me and discussed with me what the ER doctor said, I was dismayed because the diagnosis was Pneumonitis — not exactly Pneumonia but a lung thing nonetheless! Blood test and urine test were normal. I asked if our pulmonary pediatrician was informed. She was not. They told King to go direct to her if we want, after 3 days, since they prescribed meds already. Looking at the prescription, I had no peace. I asked King to take us to Danae’s pulmonary pediatrician because I wanted her expert opinion. He obliged, even though he and Danae already spent a good 3 hours in the ER and even though he already bought the medicine.

We made the right decision. The pulmo pedia said that Danae’s lungs are clear! Though we still don’t know exactly what is causing Danae’s fever yet, which was at its highest (40!) at that time, and we have to observe it until Sunday, the doctor isn’t that worried and at least it is not a lung infection again!!! Whew! I should not have insisted that they go to the ER in the first place. If only I waited a few hours to go directly to our doctor. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Sigh. When our children are sick, it’s just the worst thing ever. I feel bad when I see them feeling bad. It’s harder when you’ve got a baby who needs your attention too. I feel torn many times. But thank God Noelle is well and provides comic relief haha, even though she can be demanding. Thank God He gives us moms wisdom to know what to do in times like this and the push we need to actually do it. Thank God for reliable doctors! As parents, it’s really so hard not to worry.  But the burden isn’t so heavy when you’ve got a husband who is as dedicated as you are to your kids, friends and family who are standing with you in prayer, and a faithful God who loves you and who’s got you and your children in the palm of His hands.

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Phil 4:6-7 (MSG)

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

GREAT NEWS! Last night was Danae’s first night of continuous sleep, after a whole week of interrupted sleep. Her fever is gone! She’s coughing and snorting still and sleeping a lot, but I really feel she’s on her way back to good health. THERE IS POWER, THERE IS HEALING IN THE NAME OF JESUS! 🙂