DAD.info
Free online course for separated parents
Forum - Ask questions. Get answers.
Free online course for separated parents

Drama.

At 9:30pm Sunday evening, halfway through the incredibly tense Downtown Abbey, we heard a little bark of a cough from our 7-month-old son that would create a little drama of our own.

The cough didn’t stop after we went to check on him and the little chap was struggling with his breathing. We called NHS Direct and that led to a paramedic being dispatched, who  arrived approximately 30 seconds later (seriously impressive). They decided he should be checked over at hospital. The bad news is that our local hospital doesn’t treat kids anymore (don’t get us started on that one), so it was a 20-minute ride to the closest kids’ A&E.

Faith went with Koa and I stayed with the sleeping, blissfully unaware Adlai until a friend arrived to release me.

The weather was suitably tipping it down, so I drove to the hospital and as I did, my head filled with all sorts of scary scenarios. As I walked in to the hospital and was directed to the Children’s’ A & E, the first thing I saw was my son’s smiling face and all my concerns crumbled. Whatever they’d done had worked and he was having the time of his life. Apparently it was a nasty bit of croup, but after a dose of steroids, Koa was making a very quick recovery. The doctors kept an eye on him for a few hours. Enough time to watch Happy Feet two-and-a-half times (they were showing it on loop in the waiting room). And in the early hours of Monday we were on our way home.

Lately Faith and I have been feeling at the end of ourselves. Honestly, we’ve been struggling. Exhausted and feeling like we had lost ourselves, as time has been increasingly squeezed. On the face of it I’d expect an incident like this one to add to our emotional and physical exhaustion. But, I can honestly say today is the happiest and lightest I’ve felt in weeks. My attitude has shifted from desperation to gratitude. I am so grateful for my boys and their health. For the country we live in where an ambulance arrives in minutes and doctors and nurses and receptionists smile at you and tell you ‘it’s alright’; where friends lay down their plans and cycle through the rain on a cold November night to babysit; and for ITV Player so we can still find out what happened at with Anna and Mr. Bates.

 

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the blogger and do not necessarily represent the views of Dad.info.

Image: AttributionNoncommercialNo Derivative Works Some rights reserved by TheEssexTech

Related entries

Running to Beat the Chickens

Running to Beat the Chickens

On mile 23 of the London Marathon I was overtaken by a giant chicken. Let's just say, it was a low point… Looking back on my London Marathon ‘success’ I can only assume it was someone dressed up in a costume or perhaps some kind of hallucination. The lactic acid build...

Running to Beat the Chickens

Bonfire Night

As we stood admiring a burning effigy of Guy Fawkes I thought it would be funny to ask my six-year-old son what Bonfire Night was all about… I assumed I’d get some random answers to what is a bizarre celebration. Unfortunately, the primary education system has...

Latest entries

Fun and easy Easter activities for kids

Fun and easy Easter activities for kids

It's not always easy to think of ways to keep kids entertained during the Easter holidays! So, we have gathered together some great, simple ideas for Easter activities for kids to keep them busy. These activities also result in lovely items that they can decorate the...

How to help a bullied child

How to help a bullied child

For parents, bullying is always a concern. With our child's school lives being mostly a mystery, it can be hard for parents to keep on top of their social interactions, and know how to help a bullied child should they need to. The Anti-Bullying Alliance has found that...

Pin It on Pinterest