An Emergency Room Story with a Happy Ending (not for the faint of heart)

Yesterday was a rough day for Butterfly. I almost couldn't tell you how her siblings fared as all of our attention was focused on helping Butterfly be comfortable. Historian, with strep throat, was reminded to take his antibiotic in the morning and, other than an occasional tousling of his hair and impromptu hug, he didn't get much more parental pampering. Historian and Lizard got their own meals. Lizard even cooked lunch for Butterfly. Historian set up the DVD player in hopes of distracting Butterfly, and perhaps all of us, from the vexing and vocal discomfort she was experiencing.

Butterfly has two temporary lines that are draining her bladder. All day, we weren't satisfied with their output and suspected that a too-full recently-operated-on bladder was the source of her pain. Unfortunately, the only method we'd been taught to help drain the lines was to push water through them, and effectively into the bladder, increasing its volume even more. Every time we tried this, at least five times (we lost count), her screams not only pierced the air, but all of our hearts.

After consulting twice with the urologist-on-call, we decided to take her to the emergency room. Her distress was clear to everyone. Butterfly is not a silent sufferer. Because of that, we found ourselves pushed ahead of three others waiting in the E.R. As Butterfly's vitals were being taken, one couple came to the desk to tell the receptionist that they would be waiting outside. The woman indicated with hand gestures that her husband (whom I presume was the patient) couldn't bear to hear that little girl screaming.

Poor Butterfly had to have another IV inserted. She has been through so much. They gave her two doses of morphine which, on top of the Tylenol with Codeine we'd given her an hour earlier, did NOT take away her pain, did NOT cause her to sleep. After checking her blood and doing an ultrasound of her bladder and finding nothing alarming, the E.R. doctor advised that Butterfly be sent to MCV via ambulance for a direct admit. I cannot describe how upset Butterfly was over this. Since Steady Man and I were not convinced that MCV could do anything for Butterfly (we had been warned that the after-pains from this surgery could be "harrowing") and because we'd promised Butterfly that she wouldn't have to spend the night in the hospital, we didn't offer immediate consent. The doctor left the room to let us discuss our choice, letting us know that she strongly advised the transfer.

Pretty quickly we decided and explained to our emotionally depleted Butterfly that we should go to MCV, if only to exhaust every possible remedy for Butterfly's pain. At this point, a nurse came in to take a urine sample. She decided she would attempt to distract a sample using suction (pulling back on an over-the-counter syringe) on one of Butterfly's tubes. It wasn't working immediately, and as Butterfly's disturbed state only increased anytime anyone came in to do anything, I suggested to the nurse that she skip taking the sample as we were about to be taken to MCV for a direct admit and they could get a sample, if they needed it, there.

Praise God that this nurse did not listen to my advice but persevered! Her technique, after a few attempts, worked, and she got her sample, a very prodigious sample. And when she was done, one of Butterfly's lines filled and filled and, instantaneously, we had our girl back.

If you could have seen the transformation! She went from a hysterical, irrational, thrashing girl to the picture of peace and tranquility, cracking jokes and charming everyone who came into the room. And then she said, "Oh no, my tummy" and we were filled with dread. We asked her if the pain was returning. "No, my tummy is growling. I'm hungry!" The doctor came it to reassess her patient and she said she was completely comfortable sending Butterfly home in this lovely picture of health and happiness.

Shortly after Butterfly started feeling better, in another attempt to assess where her pain was, I asked her if she would like to stop at Walmart or Target to buy a new movie that she could watch when we got home. "Yeah!, But it should be Target. They have better movies." Boy, was she ever annoyed with us when, after finally being discharged at 10:30 p.m., we told her that it would be too late to go to Target to get a movie.

By the time all of Butterfly's missed therapies were completed, it was midnight when she was finally placed in bed. We tried the new technique that the nurse unintentionally taught us and Butterfly, lying on her side and facing away from us, signaled a thumbs-up over her side.

We cannot express how grateful we are for the events of last night! Literally moments before Butterfly, still in extreme pain, was to be sent by ambulance to another hospital to start the whole process again, God sent an angel, in the form of a nurse, to teach Butterfly's parents a way to bring instant comfort and peace to their daughter. This new technique doesn't increase her pain, bringing her to uncontrollable shrieks like the former and only method we'd been taught; rather, it causes no harm and nearly instantly relieves Butterfly's discomfort. We are overjoyed!

Now, at nearly 10 a.m., Butterfly and her daddy (who's taking his turn sleeping on a mattress on Butterfly's floor) are continuing to enjoy a pain-free, restful slumber.

Please continue to pray for Butterfly. Our God has been so merciful and good to us and we know your prayers are pleasing to His ears. Whatever happens, He deserves the glory and our praise!

We were able to encourage Butterfly to sing in the E.R. last night to help her work through her pain. She sang a song that she learned in the kids' choir at our church. The song is based on Psalm 143:8. We pray the words from this scripture will encourage you. "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."