Another Reason I'm Thankful this Year

[JenBayles]

10 days ago my 2 year-old nephew, Alex, got sick with a bad ear infection. Early on, he started getting febrile seizures. After several days in Texas Children's Hospital, with several neurologists checking him out and torturing the poor guy with every test conceivable, we now know he does not have any form of epilepsy. Apparently febrile seizures are fairly common in children up to 5 years old, but Alex kept having multiple, long-live seizures that just would not stop. Having them that badly is a fairly rare presentation, and the docs had medical students parading in and out of the room. At least some education got passed on to some new doctors from this case.

Alex will probably have this happen again if he ever gets another infection, but at least his parents now have the tools to treat it without having to run to the hospital all the time. So, long story short, the little guy will be OK, and for that I am truly thankful.

[Miss Mary]

Jen - I had no idea your nephew was so sick. But that is good news his parents know what to expect and what to do to take care of him. It's so scary when they're that little. They can't communicate as well as they can when older.......you do have a lot to be thankful this year.

Thanks for sharing that.

Mary

[JenBayles]

Thanks Mary! Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to post about it until it was all over. Just as well since I was able to post it as good news instead of bad. The worst part was when they did the lumbar puncture. My brother gave consent only on the condition that Alex be sedated. When Alex was returned to his room, he was a hysterical, screaming mess. Why? No sedation! My brother can be extremely eloquent, and he quietly pulled one of the docs aside to have a little "discussion" about it. By the time he got through with him, he had the doc in tears. Score one for the patient!