4 year old son almost died today

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I had the scare of a lifetime today, and am still pretty shaken up over it.

Jay, my 4 year old son, woke this morning with a head to toe body rash that was quite painful.

By mid afternoon, he was complaining of joint pain, and his skin was ultra-sensative, so much so that he peeled off all his clothes, as he said that they hurt him to wear. (Jay also has AS, and is Deaf as well.)

He'd been taking Amoxicillan for an Upper Respiratory Infection, but it never dawned on me that he could be experiencing an allergic reaction. We made the decision to take him to Children's Hospital in Knoxville for an evaluation. On the way to the hospital, he stopped breathing.

The doctors at the hospital were able to administer a drug to counteract the reaction, and he was quickly back to his normal self.

He'd taken Amoxicillan in the past, so nothing indicated that this could be the problem. I am just thankful that we took him in when we did, otherwise, the result would've been catastrophic.

Now, underneath his medicalert bracelet, under the word Deaf is an additional warning "Allergic to Pennicillin".

Parents be warned: If your child is taking Amoxicillan and they develop a severe rash, seek medical attention immediately. I could mean the difference between life and death.

This story has a happy ending: Jay is now resting comfortably in our bed, and not on some slab in a morgue.

-Jon

Oh, Jon. That is horrible! A parent's worse nightmare. Thank God you got him there in time.

BeeBee

Thank heavens You got him there! That Must have been really scary!

I am grateful that we did get him there in time..... But there's a part of me that can't help but to think of what could have happened. I have visions of his tiny body lying in a casket. It's a horrible thing to even think about given the fact that he's okay.... But my mind can't seem to get off of the "what if" track..... Does this happen to anyone else? Jay's my heart & life, and if something ever did happen to him, it'd be the death of me as well. I'm living a nightmare. He's fine, but what if? This one's gonna take some time to get over.......

Do you have a pastor, priest, rabbi, or other significant figure who counsels you in your spiritual life? If so, you might want to have a long talk with such a person.

You talk about getting over the scare. It is important to put viewpoint-changing experiences like this in context of the mythology and cosmology of your own life, whatever that may be. That, I believe, is the best way to get off the "what if" track, especially with something as essential as the life of your child.

The crisis becomes part of a larger picture of the meaning of one's life and the tests that one encounters as a part of the human experience. The "what if" track is making you suffer and fear even after there is any cause. But there is another way to look at the crisis, one without suffering or fear, and that is as a splendid affirmation of the love you and your son share.

You have had a most severe test, and I cannot but think that there is something more than suffering and fear for you there if you can dig it out. My thoughts will be with you both.

Whoa. That's incredibly scary.

Every time you think of that "what if", just look at Jay and remind yourself that that what-if shouldn't make you more scared but just more grateful. And enjoy your son (and tell him he'll have to endure some lovely smothering for the next couple of weeks, hehe).

Interestingly enough, I'm deaf, Non-neurotupical, and had a reaction to the very same drug at a very simlar age. I have the same warning in my medic alert file against amoxcellin.

I wonder if there is more going on here?

The exact same thing happened to me 22 years ago. I was sick and was given antibiotics for it. It wasn't ammoxicallan, but my whole body broke out into a rash. I was miserable becasue of it.

Glad you caught it just in time.

Wow, that sounds terrifying & I'm glad everything turned out okay.

This is a very scary experience. It's no wonder you are so shaken up. I think your reaction is normal to something so upsetting.

I am so pleased your son is OK now.

I am allergic to penicillin too. I've never had a reaction anything like your son's though.

Oh, my gosh! I think you just gave all of us a heart attack! Well, thank goodness your son is fine. I am happy for you.

Yeah, I think the "what ifs" right now is totally normal. I don't have kids, but I have an incredibly cute neice, and I can hardly stand to think of her getting hurt, let alone being rushed to the hospital under such circumstances. I am also not religious, but I think I would be thanking someone right now, just in case.

Thank goodness he didn't die.

so he is ok now then, yes?

is that in alieve and if your allergic to it then that means penicillen too?

i had bacterial meninjitis when i was 2 and those same symptoms can happen and it is amazing how you acted right away becuase that is what saves lives.

I suggest one thing..... make a note of the exact time and day.... and keep those details safe... My mum is forever telling me things that I did but she can never tell me when. I don't even know when I was born. My mum recalls the grand national and backache (english thing, no, not the backache you heathens, the grand national....)

Kids love to find out gory things like this.... It makes great conversation for them. I was almost swapped as a baby for a down syndrome child (before DNA testing arrived). My mum says she still sees the lady who tried to nick me. HAHA if only she knew I was aspergic.

Good on you for reacting the way you did. I'm really glad Jay is ok now. I think it's pretty normal to be freaked out by something that could have been fatal, and you will probably settle down soon enough. I am curious though, does Jay have Aspergers on his medical alert bracelet? I suppose it's not such an immediate problem... I was thinking that you would pretty quickly figure out that he was Deaf (he is probably pretty good by now at getting that idea over to hearing people), but I spose that's more for if he is ever found unconscious and isn't responding?

I'm just glad he's ok! *hugs*