Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

There are some events in anyones life that makes one stand back and scrutinize life, the universe and everything because you find you need a new or updated perspective on life and what is and is not important. I had one of these this week.

It all started on Wednesday afternoon towards the end of a busy software drop cycle with a call from my wife; “Don’t worry” she said, “The crèche has called me to collect Maeve because she is not herself, and is running a temperature and has a small rash”. My wife went on to inform me that could I work from home on Thursday since the crèche won’t accept Maeve for two days because of if. “No Problem” I said, and the call ended there.

An hour latter I get another call from my Wife. “I took Maeve to the Doctor, and the first Doctor – not our regular GP – called the regular GP in for a second opinion and after examination said they were going to call an Ambulance because Maeve may have Meningitis; they have given Maeve something to bring down her temperature and started a course of Antibiotics”.

This of course shocked me to the core – our little Maeve may have a life threatening illness!!! – I was filled with dread and fear. My “Tweets” on the way to the hospital by train I suppose say it all:

“Doctor assuming worse case scenario of Meningitis – Needless to say we are worried. Making way to hospital and worried; Pray it’s nothing”

“feeling empty. Need to see Maeve and my wife – I love them both more than I can say”

“at Sandymount dart station – won’t this train go any faster!”

“at Landsdowne road – three stops to go. Need to keep my mind distracted”

“At grand canal dock – or should that be google Ireland. Two to go”

“at Pearce station and the wet weather matches my mood”

“At Tara street dart station and time to get off”

“at children’s hospital in A&E. Wife and Maeve in with consultant before I arrived. Will have to wait….10 green bottles standing on the wall”

“Maeve admitted to hospital after ambulance dash through rush hour traffic. Doc’s think viral infection rather than meningitis.”

I finally managed to get to the temple street children’s hospital and wait for 30 minutes till the consultant A&E doctor had a look at Maeve and I could go to the bed in A&E where they were – this was around 20:00 hours. My wife looked pale and tired, Maeve also and apparently it took four attempts till they could get enough blood from which to run tests upon. Maeve was naked apart from the nappy, not because the ward was hot (it was warm) but to help keep her temperature down. Near her left elbow Maeve had an IV point taped up in case the doctors needed to feed her, take more blood or give her medication.

We waited in A&E until 23:00, with the Nurses checking on Maeve from time to time predominately taking her temperature – which was high.

Maeve was given an isolation room in a public children’s ward. Which had a TV, a couple of chairs a sink and a folding plastic/form mattress which we could sleep upon.
During the first night the medical team came in (around 4am) and said that on consideration and the rash they were going to perform a lumbar punch. They had to hold a screaming and squirming Maeve down whilst the doctor performed their third lumber punch of the shift.

Mercifully the test came back as negative for meningitis, but that left the infection as “a n other virus”. The medical team – whom we have nothing but praise for – said that they would keep Maeve in for a second night and if things were looking as good as signs were showing and the initial blood tests came back on Friday as clear then they would release her either Friday or Monday (lab for some reason does not work Saturday or Sunday).

Late Thursday afternoon Maeve started to show signs of her “normal” colours – energy coming back, inquisitiveness and independence of spirit.

Friday the blood tests came back OK and were were out of the hospital after thanking everyone – which was good since by this time Maeve was bored with the new environment and wanted to leave the isolation room.

We would like to thank everyone for their call’s and support – very much appreciated and needed when you are torturing yourself over what maybe or what could have been.

I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry to my sister for worrying her. We were up visiting her a couple of days before Maeve fell ill, so I thought it important to tell her what was happening – just in case her children (one only 11 weeks old and therefore no jabs) showed any sign.

Thanks be to God it turned out to be a fuss over relatively nothing.