The Face of Appendicitis

It had been a lovely spring evening and the kids had enjoyed playing outside right up until dinner started. When I called them inside, Nathan complained of a tummy ache and said he wasn't up to eating. He laid on the couch and rested and after dinner I told him he could go downstairs and watch a movie. I just assumed he had a tummy bug. As the night wore on, he was in quite a bit of pain and threw up, but that didn't seem to offer any relief. By the time bedtime rolled around he was just acting different from a normal sickness and I was worried enough to have him sleep on our bedroom floor so I could keep a close watch over him. Trent checked him for appendicitis symptoms and ruled that out for the time being. 

Around 5:00 am he woke up in a lot of pain. Trent again checked him and found that he was exhibiting symptoms of appendicitis. After a priesthood blessing Trent took him to the ER. He parked in his employee parking but had to carry this not-so-light little boy all the way to the hospital entrance. 

Nathan had fun playing on this interactive light wall while waiting in the ER lobby.

They suspected appendicitis and decided to admit him and observe him throughout the day before moving to surgery.

I sent the kids' anatomy book with Trent for Nathan to look at while waiting. Here is Nathan checking out what and where the appendix is.

And enjoying watching Animal Planet to his heart's content!

And it was Doctor's Day at the hospital Trent got to have a fancy lunch.

Trent had some residents he knew from  his rotations examine Nathan and they weren't sure if it was appendicitis or not. Nathan's attending physician, Dr. Draus, decided to admit Nathan so he was taken up to the children's hospital for observation. He got to watch a few movies, but eventually his discomfort was so great that his only comfort was Daddy climbing in his bed and cuddling with him.

Around 3:30 pm he took a turn for the worse and really started to have more intense pain. Dr. Draus examined him again and decided to prep him for surgery right away. Because Thomas was still so new, Trent had spent most of the day with Nathan. Once I heard that he would be going into surgery, I took the kids to a friend's house and Thomas and I headed down to be with Nathan before they took him into surgery. It was so good to see him and be there with him. It had been SO hard for my mama heart to know that he was hurting and not be there with him every minute. But we knew that the ER and children's hospital during flu and RSV season would not be the best for Thomas. 

Getting wheeled down to pre-op. Nathan was the bravest patient! 

He got commended many times for his manners and good attitude during the whole process.

I brought his bear from home and the OR team made him a "Superbear" cape out of a mask. Nathan loved it.

Surgery went well and they found clear signs of appendicitis. He was excited to have his popsicle after he woke up since he wasn't allowed to eat anything all day.

And finally, the next day he got to eat breakfast! It was a long stretch without food and he was HUNGRY. 

Playing in the play area...

We were all so very excited to welcome our Nathan home, safe and sound. 

The first few days at home were pretty rough as he was still in a lot of pain and needing to rest around the clock. Heidi made a very doting and attentive nurse and was so helpful in keeping track of his medicine doses!

Trent had been scheduled to leave for Atlanta to take a board exam the same day Nathan was discharged. He was sleep deprived and concerned about leaving me with Nathan needing so much care plus a new baby. We were SO grateful that he was able to reschedule it for the next week. Heavenly Father cares so much about the details of our lives and I am so grateful he watches over my little family everyday!