another of Ben's wishes comes true

On Wednesday, I dropped my mom and Moffat off at the airport and returned home with Ben.  My mom called after checking in to tell me how much she had enjoyed our magnificent visit.  As she was talking, I kept hearing a beeping.  I looked at my phone to see if someone else were trying to call but did not see any message, so I assumed it was my mom's phone.  After I hung up, the phone informed me that I had missed a call from Ellie's teacher, Ms. Pettit.  When I listened to the voicemail, I discovered that Ellie was having a seizure that was  lasting around 5 minutes.  When a seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes, we have been instructed to administer Ellie's anti-seizure medication.  The paramedics were called in for assistance when it appeared Ellie was not coming out of it.  I was panicked as I tried to get my phone to work and kept hitting the wrong buttons, tried to get Ben's lunch packed up and myself in the car while continuing to breathe breathe breathe. 

When I arrived at the school, Ellie's teacher was awaiting us outside.  I raced in and she assisted Ben in exiting the car.    Ellie was coming around by the time I arrived, although she was still laying on her side, she was chatting up the medical team surrounding her.  An ambulance had been called to transport Ellie to the ER.  Ellie was nervous about riding in the ambulance by herself so I asked if Ben could also ride in the ambulance with me.  As the paramedics wheeled Ellie to the elevator, Ben bounded down the steps, telling everyone in sight that he was going to get to ride in an ambulance.  I mean he could not believe his good luck.  What a contrast between all of the somber adults, worried about Ellie's well-being and Ben full of enthusiasm and exuberance for his upcoming adventure.  Ellie was a bit afraid riding in bed where she was strapped down until I told her it was similar to riding in a bed at the hospital (which she has done plenty of as of late!)  The whole time we were riding, Ben had a running list of questions.  Why does the route look different from an ambulance?  (Answer:  Because we were facing back instead of front.)  Why did we keep stopping? (Answer: stop lights.) What other colors do ambulances come in?  (Answer:  red, white, green.  Ben would like a green one "next time".)  The baby was moving around like crazy the whole ambulance ride. 

By the time we arrived in the ER, Ellie had pretty much recovered and, although she was super sleepy on the ambulance ride, she was pretty much back to her chatty self in the ER.  And can I just say that you really do get the best service when you arrive by ambulance.  A child life worker, Amanda, was in the room and immediately set to work accompanying Ben to Tyler's Place.  Ellie had had a highly stinky and messy accident during her seizure so I set to work cleaning her up.  When Amanda returned she assisted me in that task as well as retrieving crayons for Ellie to work on.  Thom arrived a bit later with clean clothes for Ellie (and more crayons just in case).  He explained that he had gone ahead and ran his errands beforehand (what I titled, "Pulling an Elaine". From the Seinfeld episode where Elaine takes the time to stop and get candy at the movie theatre before arriving at the hospital bed of a friend.)   No one really knows why Ellie had a seizure today.  It seemed that she had a small one (lasting about a minute), last Wednesday.  Perhaps Wednesdays just make her have seizures.  It remains yet another medical mystery. 

Amazing how a day can change in a flash and then change right back...I think one thing I am greatful for today is that Ellie was doing better even when I arrived at the school.  Whenever there is some type of "emergency" situation that Ellie quickly recovers from, I somehow feel as if we have bypassed something.  Like we might have had to stay once again in the hospital, but we somehow got out of it.  Like getting to leave work early.  Or cake not on your birthday.  Or a surprise visit from somebody you love.  A warm day in March (in Wisconsin that does not happen very often). I almost feel giddy in the end, knowing that she is home now and feeling better.  Having Ben with us and his super excited attitude also puts things in a different perspective than we would have had otherwise.  Knowing that HE was beyond excited, made the experience more fun than scary.  And seriously we have been to the ER so many times as of late it hardly seems   'emergency'  anymore.  On the ambulance ride, the paramedic told Ellie that she would probably rather be doing something else than going back to the hospital.  To which I responded that we like to focus on the things we like about the hospital, such as all the friends we have there.  Then when we arrived, our oncology nurse, the fabulous Peter, was called to see if he could come and do the poke, making it easier for Ellie.  Because as Ben so clearly illustrates, going to the hospital does not have to be a tragedy or even something that ruins our day (although I think riding in the ambulance most certainly MADE his day).