This is what life threatening anaphylactic shock can look like. This is my sweet baby girl covered in a rash, itching, with swollen eyes, after throwing up and receiving Benadryl, an EpiPen, and oxygen. She is trying hard to smile because Mom isn't succeeding at trying not to cry.
At this point, it is assumed that Abby got into nuts at school on Monday afternoon. She has a known allergy to peanuts and has Benadryl and an EpiPen on file at school in case this were to ever happen. She had labored breathing about 3:10 PM when they called us. While Marcus was on his way, over the next 10 minutes she got much worse.
Marcus took her to the pediatrician and they administered the EpiPen and oxygen. With a severe allergic reaction, tissues inside the body swell which includes the throat. She was having trouble breathing as a result of the allergic reaction and needed oxygen in her blood because she wasn't breathing normally for 30 or so minutes. Today, she is all better with the exception of still having slightly puffy eyes.
We met with her school this morning to discuss erring on the side of caution- give her Benadryl and call us if you see any signs of a reaction. If the EpiPen becomes necessary, call 911 immediately. We will also meet with an allergist next week and run a full set of tests to determine if Abby is only allergic to nuts (and somehow got into them at her peanut-free school) or if there is a new/unknown allergen that we will have to watch out for. I don't know which I prefer.... her school to have failed us or a new allergy for her to have.
The good side of all of this... God placed Marcus at home earlier than normal and closer to her school, Abby has a father with the pediatrician's number in his cell phone who thought enough to grab her diaper bag with the EpiPen in it, and a pediatrician with an opening in her schedule and the knowledge to treat her quickly.
10 comments:
Wow, just wow! I'm glad everything seems to be better now. Abby is such a trooper!
I still get tears in my eyes thinking about this whole scenario. I'm so thankful that all of pieces of this puzzle fell into place. We love you and are so glad Abby is OK. Let's hope Abby's Mama and Daddy's hearts are recovering as well.
Love you.
I am amazed at your strength! I got all choked up and teary eyed reading this; it is so hard to see your child go through something scary like that (and that's the understatement of the year!). I'm so sorry you guys went through this but relieved that everything is ok and that Abby's getting better! I'll continue to pray for her and that there aren't any new allergies! Love to you all.
I am glad she is doing better and everything worked out.
Now I must go find a tissue...and say a prayer of thanks.
Hang in there sweet Abby! My sister-in-law carries an epipen in her purse where ever she goes!
I am so sorry. I am glad she is better. We will there is no new allergy, just an accident from all of the Easter candy this weekend.
So glad to hear that Abby is all right and you are taking such quick and decisive measures to prevent this from happening again! I hope you are ALL on the mend now.
oh, sweet friend! that picture just makes my heart SAD! so glad for God's provision and protection. she's such a trooper! loves to you ALL! praying!
Would you mind if I used your photo of your sweet daughter on a paper I'm working on? I am writing an informational packet for caregivers at a local drop-in daycare center.
Hi,
I hope all is well with you. Healthline just published an infographic detailing the effects of anaphylaxis on the body. This is an interactive chart allowing the reader to pick the side effect they want to learn more about.
You can see the overview of the report here: http://www.healthline.com/health/anaphylaxis/effects-on-body
Our users have found our guide very useful and I thought it would be a great resource for your page: http://journeywiththejenks.blogspot.com/2011/04/anaphylactic-shock.html
I would appreciate it if you could review our request and consider adding this visual representation of the effects of anaphylaxis to your site or sharing it on your social media feeds.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
All the best,
Maggie Danhakl • Assistant Marketing Manager
Healthline • The Power of Intelligent Health
660 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.healthline.com | @Healthline | @HealthlineCorp
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