Strep Throat Gone Way Wrong

Life can turn on a dime.

Last Monday Olivia woke up with a sore throat and stiff neck.  I acknowledged both issues, and I sent her to school.  That evening, she was diagnosed with strep throat.  The doctor said her lymph nodes were swollen from infection, which explained the tenderness she experienced upon moving her neck.  Thursday morning, she was still complaining to the point of crying about pain moving her neck.  A follow-up with the pediatrician led to a CT of her neck (with an IV for contrast).  A retropharyngeal abscess was found at the base of her skull inside her neck in the area behind her throat and sinuses.  She was sent to the Emergency Room for a consultation  with an Ears Nose and Throat surgeon, which led to emergency surgery and hospitalization for IV antibiotics.  She went from run of the mill strep throat to surgery with general anesthesia and being admitted to the hospital.  She's so wise for her years.  She expressed the sentiment that life was funny in that things could sure change and get serious in a hurry.  The day after her discharge, she felt a little puny.  I told her I'd stay home from mass with her while Daddy took Evelyn.  She said, "I don't feel great, but I feel well enough to go learn about Jesus!"  Be still my heart.  What a little blessing of a daughter.

As we approach Thanksgiving, it is abundantly apparent that I have much for which to be thankful.  Without easy access to prompt medical care for my child, my life could be much different today.  During a recent scripture study gathering, one lady shared this notion.  "Imagine that you wake up tomorrow with only those things for which you thanked God yesterday."  The children and I discussed this after school, and Olivia decided it prudent to develop an all encompassing prayer of thanksgiving.  That's not a bad idea.

During my time in the hospital with Olivia, I was so very grateful for the support I received through prayers and actions from family and friends.  My dearest friend, Emily, appeared in the Radiology Department right before Olivia's CT.  She took my two little ones, and she kept all three younger children for over 28 hours.  I was able to focus on supporting Olivia during her time of need.  Thank you, God.  As Olivia would recommend, "Thank you, God, for my loving husband.  Thank you for the health of my children and relatives.  Thank you for every blessing in my life.  Amen."