I looked at Lauren and instantly knew something was drastically wrong.
Lauren sat in her high chair at dinner. I sat beside her. Like many/most mothers, I glanced at her frequently. I’m not sure why we mothers do that, we just do. One moment she was fine; the next she looked drastically different.
Lauren helping with the washing up. Photo courtesy of Kathy Pennell
She sat absolutely still and stared vacantly into space. The skin under her fingernails had turned blue. I touched her arm. She didn’t respond but she felt hot. Few things in day-to-day life create fear as quickly as something happening or wrong with your child. I stood up immediately and took her out of her highchair.
Her temperature was 103 degrees. From normal to 103 degrees within a very short period of time can cause convulsions. I told my husband to bath her in tepid water while I called the pediatrician. I fully expected him to direct me to the ER. Instead, he asked how far we were from the ER. We were 5-10 minutes away. He said we were doing everything the ER would do and to keep a close eye on her. Take her in if there was any change.
The following day at the pediatrician’s office, she seemed normal. He said little ones can spike a temperature and, within 24 hours, appear normal. He didn’t know what it was. Obviously a virus.
That night, it was a repeat performance. Suddenly, Lauren spiked a temperature and the following day, I took her to see the doctor. Once again, she appeared to have recovered. Once again, he felt it was a virus.
There are certain things in life for which there are no explanations. After that second episode, it never happened again—thankfully.
Before we have children we don’t know the depth of love, worry, fear, and guilt we are capable of.