After looking at Tate funny for about five days straight, I prayed on Wednesday morning for the Lord to give Blake and I clear direction whether or not to call Tate’s doctor.
Tate had not been sleeping well, not eating, acting very tired, very irritable, and complaining of a tummy ache. His eyes also did not look “right” to us. So Wednesday morning when he would, again, not take a bite of his breakfast, I said “You feeling ok, buddy?” He answered quickly, “Yes, Mommy, except for my head. It feels like a headache all the day long.”
Thank you Lord for clear direction.
I called UW Madison’s neuro department, waited just a few minutes for a call back from them, thinking they would send us to the local ER for a CT scan of Tate’s VP shunt that is in his brain.
Instead, they wanted a quick brain MRI, which our local hospital cannot do, for comparative purposes. Also, because there is no one here locally to provide Tate with the care he would need if something was not ok, they told us to pack overnight bags and get there as quickly as we could.
Well, ok then. That is a game changer.
Blake headed home from work, and the kids and I scurried around getting things ready. Thankfully Addie Mae was not working, so she was able to stay with the other kiddos.
Eliza took it upon herself to check her brother over to see if he was ok!
By the time we left the farm around 9 a.m., it had already rained five inches in this area. There were flood warnings for us and every county around us, and it was still pouring rain.
The creek beds along our drive were so high, and the roads had standing water everywhere, but we made it safely to AFCH arriving there right at noon.
We checked in at radiology for a quick brain MRI and were told they were hours behind, but even though we were being worked in they would be right with us. And within five minutes they called Tate’s name.
I had prepped Tate during our drive as to what was happening, carefully choosing words that would not scare him, but make him understand it all. We learned pretty early in our adoption with Eliza that carefully telling all is the best option for these kiddos. They have a lot to face, and they need to be prepared to be brave and strong! Tate did ask me if the doctor was going to “open up my head,” to which I replied, “We sure hope not, buddy, but the pictures will tell us for sure.”
Tate asked the tech if his Teddy B could go in the MRI machine with him, so the tech scanned Teddy B with a magnet device to see if he could. Teddy B got his first MRI on Wednesday!
Tate laid down on that huge bed, got his head and body strapped down, ear plugs put into his ears, something like a helmet put on his head, and then yelled at Blake who was with him “Daddy, hold my feet! Hold my feet!!” They slid Tate into the tunnel while Blake held his feet, and Tate never flinched or shed one tear.
My brave, strong, sweet, precious boy!
After the scan was done, we waited in a room while they paged the neurosurgeon.
These photos are Tate’s personality shining through!
The doctor came in and gave us the GREAT news that Tate’s scans looked just like his last ones – meaning the ventricles in his brain were not filling with fluid that was not being drained by the shunt, because they were not any bigger.
We also learned that this scan is not the “tell all”, and if Tate’s symptoms worsen he needs to be seen again asap.
We were just so thankful to be allowed to come HOME! First some lunch from our cooler in the lobby.
Once we left the hospital we stopped at the Co-op for a treat. Tate and I decided to wait in the van because it was still pouring rain!
It was then that I realized in front of and under the back seat of the van was filling with water. What?! Once Blake checked it out later Wednesday night, he found a panel above the back tire that was completely rusted through. The windshield also cracked this week. Our van may be old, but we hope to keep it running!
It took about two seconds after our treat was gone for this to happen –
Since Wednesday, Tate has not gotten any worse. He still is not back to his old self though either. His Mama is keeping an eye on him, that is for sure.
I cannot tell you how thankful we are for the care our littles receive at AFCH! They are the most amazing children’s hospital, and make our medical journey so much easier than it could be.
We are also thankful for our precious little boy, his bravery and strength, and that he is stable at this time!!
