When out in the hallway there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
And then....our Christmas plans changed:
Earlier in the day Jacque developed a severe ear ache on the way up to Pima, to meet Grandma 1/2 way and exchange presents. Jacque had been struggling with earaches for over 3 months and we thought everything was healthy. During the Christmas Eve festivities, it developed into full blown pain and Jacque needed to be taken to the hospital. Off we went - Jacque, Aly, and me - to Gilbert Hospital aroung 2:30 a.m early Christmas Day. No other patients were there - surprise! They could tell she was in some pain, looked in her ear and diagnosed her with a "swimmer's ear infection", and gave her a shot of Phenergan and Demerol for pain. And, they also gave her a prescription for percocet - a pain med that normally wouldn't be needed for a swimmer's ear infection. That should fix the problem, they said with confidence. They over-medicated her and she was doped and loopey. Oh this was going to be a good start! 3 hours later, we were home and exhausted. We opted to go to another ward because Gilbert 6th Ward was early and we wanted Jacque to rest. I think we were hoping she would wake up and everything would be better. We opted to wait to open our Christmas until Jacque awoke, which was around noon. Then went to see what Santa had delivered!
After Aly and I attended Cornerstone Ward (the Oliver's) and enjoyed a wonderful spiritual feast of music that touched our souls and filled us with Christmas wonder, we came home and opened presents from family.
Aly knows me too well!
These two quote "Boy Meets World," a TV series, like they watch it every day....now they can!
Aly's gift to Jacque...it was perfect
"Thousand forty five!"
"A thousand forty-five what Aly?"
"CRAY-ONS!"
The pain medicine had now worn off and Jacque's ear was a little more swollen and she was still in a lot of pain. Not one to complain, she still wanted to go to Grammy and Grampy's for Christmas traditions.
This time it was zofran, morphine, and torradol to attempt to decrease the swelling that had increased from just her ear to her jaw. This doctor got a little creative and decided to diagnose it as related to her jaw issues that would be fixed in surgery on Wednesday. A few more antibiotics just in case and we were headed back home. Monday morning Jacque slept a little, but when she awoke, her ear was still swollen and the ear pain was back. It was getting to be frustrating and expensive to fix a "simple ear infection." Jacque is counting the hours until her next dose of percocet...which is a warning flag...two percocet every four hours with 3 advil in-between = Too much pain.
Monday night - the pain increased to the point that during the night (around midnight, of course) Jacque dialed Brad's cell phone from the front room where she had been sleeping on the couch with Aly as her guard. She was in tears from the pain. We called the Gilbert ER and explained that we had already been there twice and their treatments and diagnoses were ineffective. They suggested that we go to the ER at Desert Banner, where Jacque's surgery was scheduled for on the upcoming Wednesday (that is another story to tell). Off we go.....with hopes that there is a doctor that can see outside the box and make a better diagnoses. This woman doctor thought to call a traveling ENT from Good Samaritan and also her surgeon. She didn't think we would get any responses from these calls, but she was willing to try.
Tender mercy: The ER doctor comes in and says that she has seen a "Christmas miracle". Both doctors responded!! The ENT could only perscribe a stronger antibiotic and ear drops. Her surgeon reported that this would not affect her future surgery, the infection was not related to the jaw issues, and he would consult with her when he saw her Wednesday morning for surgery. We head home with hopes that these medications would do the job. The problem with the ear drops was that her ear was completely swollen shut and there was no hole to put the drops in. I did the best I could, but even touching her ear caused pain. Jacque has now lost the hearing in this ear but continued to endure the pain through out the next day hoping that surgery would fix these issues.
Quite the collection, wouldn't you say?
Wednesday morning - around 2:00 a.m., Jacque awoke with a splitting headache. This headache extended into her frontal lobe and was excruciating. But what to do?? The ER will just send us home and we will look like idiots for rushing to another ER within 3 days. I load her into the car and start toward Banner Samaritan (the 3rd ER) praying for guidance. Jacque doen't want to go and I am stumped. I take the Mesa Dr. exit intending to go home, but after listening to the muffled sobs of Jacque, I turn around again and head for the ER....praying for guidance and an answer. Her face is now swollen and she cannot hold her head up. We sit in front of the ER and I wait....and pray....and wait. Jacque asked me what I was doing and I said: "Waiting for an answer!!"
Tender mercy: I think to call her surgeon's office. I get their call-line and the operator asks incredulously.... "Really...really...you want me to wake the surgeon...even if he hasn't operated on her yet??"
YES!
We wait for about 10 minutes and Dr. Michael Elliott is our little miracle. He talks to Jacque and realizes that this is far more serious than an ear infection. He tells her to walk in the ER and ask for a CT scan and he will authorize it and check in on her. We walk in the ER...no one is there and the nurses are apethetic to her condition. I forcefully say we are not moving and she needs to see a doctor immediately. A doctor hears the commotions, takes a look at Jacque and helps us back to a waiting room. An ER doctor (the 4th one) comes in, takes one look at Jacque's swollen face, ear, jaw, and pain-filled eyes and starts giving orders. - CT scan, phenergan, zofran, morphine, benadryl, and torradol (because she looks that bad!!)
NOW we have doctors coming in all over the place.
Really??
We have a infectious disease specialist, a ENT (an Ear Nose & Throat Specialist), an internal medicine doctor, a regular doctor, and eventually her surgeon comes in to check things out. The ENT comes in and realized that since the ear is now swollen shut, he is going to insert a wick (a sponge-like object) into the ear. Mind you, this ear is already irritated and swollen shut. Warning her that it was going to be painful...he literally shoved the wick into her ear. I don't think any parent ever wants to see a child in so much pain. It took everything in me to keep calm and not cry myself.
Jacque is admitted into the hospital with a soft-tissue infection that has spread to 1/2 her face. They try Vancomycin and with an outbreak of hives, we realize that Jacque has her first allergy. They eventually change the antibiotic to levoquin and for the next 48 hours, she is monitored quite closely with antibiotics of clindamycin and fluids.
Within that time, they are able to control the pain and her face loses most of the swelling. She did not regain her hearing until the wick was removed 5 days later at the ENT's office.
a much, much happier Jacque ready to go home!
At least Jacque can look forward to next Christmas with lots of anticipation for a better and happier ending! We are just blessed to have our family around us and know that through the prayers and family and friends, we were able to get Jacque the care she needed.
