Do not repeat

Wednesday night, 8:00 P.M.

"Mom, I feel pressure in my ear like I did when I was 5. I don't like it."

"Let me see, get the flashlight. Um, Stefan, what is this in his ear? His ear is bleeding, and it won't stop."

"Looks like some kind of something."

"Put it in a bag, you'll have to take him to the doctor tomorrow on your half day."

11:00 P.M.
"I don't know, what do you think?"

"Well, I know I don't like the sound of that, so fill up the humidifier and put it in her room."

12:00 A.M.
cough, cough

12:47 A.M.
cough, cough, cough

1:00 A.M.
cough, cough, cough, cough

Thursday, 6:00 A.M.
"I don't know why I set an alarm, I was up all night listening to the coughing."

"Me, too. What time do you want me take him to the doctor?"

"I don't know; I have to make an appointment when they open at 9. I will call you on my break. You'll have to get him early from school and then get the little kids when you are done. Do you think she'll be okay today?"

"I don't know. I will make sure she sounds okay before I take her in."

"Well, let me know. I hate this."

1:45 P.M.
text message
"His bleeding ear is fine; some kind of scratch or something, he has ear drops to make sure it's okay. The other ear has another hole in the eardrum, though."

"What?!"

"Hi, I need to make an appointment for my son. The ear he had surgery on has another hole in the eardrum. We would really like to see the surgeon before Thanksgiving."

8:00 P.M.
"I don't know what's wrong, but she sounds horrible, tons of wheezing. You should take her to the doctor in the morning."

"I already have to take #3 in for his 4-yr. well visit plus a recheck on his ear because it won't stop draining from that ear infection, so I'll just add her. Did you give her breathing treatments while I was at conferences?"

"Yeah, but she still sounds bad."

"How's the ear?"

"He's pretty upset about having to go back to the specialist."

"I know, but what else can we do? Now both of them have some ear thing to worry about."

"Do you think he'll change the antibiotic again tomorrow?"

"I don't know. I hope it just goes away. It's been two weeks and two antibiotics. Have fun up north hunting with the boy. Take his mind off everything, maybe."

Friday, 1:00 A.M.
cough, cough, cough

10:15 A.M.
"Dr. Sundar, I don't know what else to do about this draining ear. Should we try another antibiotic? Is this normal?"

"It's not 'normal', but it's not 'abnormal' since he still has the tube in that ear. At least the infection is draining out and not causing pain. I think I will swab it because it might be a staph infection in his ear."

"When will we know about that?"

"Probably Tuesday; it has to be cultured."

"What do we do if it's a staph infection? Isn't that serious?"

"Yes, but let's cross that bridge if we get there. Now, what's the deal with her? She doesn't sound good? Are you still doing inhaled steroids? Albuterol? Humidifier?"

"Yes, yes, and yes. She was fine until yesterday. Then she started with the wheezing. I have been doing everything I can think of to avoid steroids again. She is so little."

"Let me take a listen....yes, bad wheezing. We have to do something different because you are doing the max you can for prevention, but it's not enough. I am going to put her on a new medicine; it's not really approved until 12 months, but it's the lesser of two evils. Let's try it for a month.

"Are you sure it's safe?"

"I think so, yes."

"Okay, but I don't like this. I don't know what else to do, though."

"Try it for 30 days, and I am writing her a steroid prescription. Use it if you need to; you'll know when, you always do. I want to get you through the weekend without having to take her to the ER. Call me or bring them back if they get worse. I'll let you know about the ear culture, too. Keep her on 4 treatments a day and 2 of the steroid."

Sigh.
text message
"Little kids...not good. Things are falling apart while you are gone."

Saturday, 10:00 A.M.
"Are you wheezing, too? Do you feel okay? Is it scratchy? Does it hurt? Let me see your ear? It's still draining. Let's take your medicine...and why don't you sit here and watch Cars while you have a breathing treatment. Let me get the other machine because it's time for your sister's too.

2:00 P.M.
Another round of breathing treatments

6:00 P.M.
Another round of breathing treatments

7:00 P.M.
"Hi, it's Mom. She's been in an accident on her way home. She flipped the car and Dad's on his way. I don't know much, but she is walking and talking; I'll keep you posted."

"Stefan, are you on your way home? My mom just called. My sister's been in an accident. No, I don't know much, but I am waiting on her to call. I might need to drive out there. You'll have to finish up the last round of treatments tonight and give all the medicines."

Sunday
More of the same

12:00 P.M.
"I was so worried about you! Always hit the deer! How's your neck? Fracture, sprain, and concussion? Go lay down!"

Monday, 6:00 A.M.
Work...