Johnathen's trip to the hospital..

Johnathen had been feeling yucky Monday night (Sept. 23) He had the barfies through the night. His tummy still hurt in the morning, so I let him sleep. I thought his tummy just hurt from being sick. On Wednesday he still felt yucky. No fever, just tired, tummy ache- but the pain moved around. Then that night he said "mom I know right where it hurts." and pointed to his lower right quadrat of his tummy... Yes I have enough medical knowledge to know what that is, APPENDIX!!!!! It was late and I didn't want to sit in the ER- I had already not slept all week. He did not show any concerning signs that it was anything more then a possible appendix, likely inflamed. So I took him into the Drs office in the morning. Johnathen was in a lot of pain, he needed me to carry him. The Dr. took one look at him, touched his tummy, and left the room to call the surgeon. He came back and asked if Johnathen wanted a shot for the pain-YES. Poor kid! They want him for an ultrasound and blood work ASAP at the Hospital.  So I call my awesome right hand stay at home mommy friend, Kara, who happens to be at Costco in Spanish Fork, and I meet her in the parking lot and toss Sevie (literally car seat and all) in her car, ask her to pick up the kindergarten kids. Johnathen was nervous. We talked a lot about the things they would do and possible things that could happen. He wanted to go home and get his lambie and special blanket. I knew we would be inpatient for at least the night so I grabbed my "to go" bag I always have ready. Sent Thom a text, saying we were on our way to the hospital.
The poor boy had to walk all over the place to get the different tests done. Good thing he had a shot of morphine! In the ultrasound they could not "see" his appendix. They could however see 2 fluid masses, with some tissue layering by one mass. We had his blood draw, and waited, and waited. I kept in contact with Thom. He was on his way from work to give Johnathen a blessing. Pretty soon we had a visit from the surgical NP. We talked pre-op. The OR was getting prepped for him at that moment. We met Dr. Gill the surgeon. He said it was definitely a ruptured appendix. He was so great to explain everything to Johnathen. He told him he would take pictures of his surgery and they could be his Halloween pictures.Thom came around the corner just as they left. Let me pause here for a moment to express my gratitude. Thom carpools to work. His carpool buddy came with him to give Johnathen his blessing. I am so thankful for Thom's job, letting him leave in a moments notice. I am thankful for Jeff, a worthy Priesthood holder, to give my son a blessing. All while Kara has Neleh, Sev and JP  (my neighbors little boy that I babysit on Thursdays) plus her 3 kids. Then she gives Neleh and Sev to JPs mom, Coppelia, who feeds them dinner and is a great entertaining distraction until Thom can get there at bed time. We are blessed with Angels around us!
Things moved pretty fast after we met with Dr. Gill. Johnathen had just changed into the hospital pjs when the OR team was there to get him. Thom and I went to wait in the waiting room. We settled in just like we had, well, done this before. Surgery was over 2 hours. Dr. Gill talked to us and explained the "Halloween" pictures he took. He emphasized how sick Johnathen was. He was full of infection. In surgery they had to clean each section of his intestines. I asked what would have been the next sign or symptom that something was going on, because Johnathen just had a tummy ache. He said bowel perforation, bowel obstruction, and sepsis. Johnathen most likely had a bowel perforation due to the amount of infection he had in his abdomen. They placed a drain, that will drain any remaining infection for the next few days. He would be in patient for at least 5 days draining and on IV antibiotics. Thankfully he started as a healthy boy, and his body fought a good fight.




This is NOT how you want to see your healthy boy!

This was the picture text he wanted to send to Neleh and Severin so they knew he was ok.

He wanted to see Neleh and Severin so bad and let them know he was ok. He made it about 5 mins before he couldn't handle them anymore.
Johnathen had lots of visitors, which lifted his spirits.
He made a friend, who was "in" for the same thing. They would get each other up and walk to the play room to play Wii. As they sat and played they would discuss their surgeries like a couple of old men!
It was a long 5 day stay. He was released on Oct. 1.
His school class made him a get well card and wrote notes. His neighborhood buddies made him a candy get well card.
I am so thankful for modern medicine saving the life of my son. Thom and I pour over the week leading up to this and have tons of guilt. He didn't present a classic case. We have heard countless stories from Drs. and Nurses who over looked their own childs major illness. It does make us feel a teeny bit better but we will always be extra cautions about the tummy aches.