That Wednesday in May 2012 started out not particularly different from any other day. Scott and I spent the day working on various projects around the farm. However, at one point I did pause to admire 15 month old Quinton trying to keep up with his older siblings. “He is so cute, what a wonderful blessing from God,” I thought to myself.
Earlier in the week Rebekah had a short round of stomach flu, but it seemed that no one else was going to share in that adventure. After we had eaten lunch Scott and I played with Quinton on the couch. He was so ornery; he kept trying to push Scott off. We decided to head out to do a little work on Scott’s truck. While we worked, Eli asked if he could drive Quinton around in the stroller. I told him that was fine just to stay in the shade. In a short time, Quinton had fallen asleep. Being the creative boy that he is, Eli “blocked” the wheels of the stroller by putting small scrap pieces of board by each tire. We were right there working on the seat of Scott’s truck not more than 8 foot from Quinton asleep in his stroller.
Suddenly I heard a sound I had never before heard but instantly knew that something was terribly wrong! At the time I didn’t know what it was, I just knew that Quinton was in some sort of distress. I grabbed him from the stroller while telling Scott to dial 9-1-1. We ran with him toward the house.
The other kids instantly knew something was very wrong even without fully understanding it. It amazes me to this day the way they handled it. The four of them went into the living room and began to pray for their little brother.
Quinton was having a seizure and he was making an awful raspy noise when he would breathe. His breathing got so shallow, at one point, Scott and I both thought he had quit breathing, but soon the horrible, loud, raspy breathing started again. It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and all the while Quinton was seizing.
We met the ambulance at the driveway. They immediately got Quinton and I in; where they began to assess him. His temperature was 101.7. They put an oxygen mask on him and administered valium to try to stop the seizure. Finally the terrible convulsions stopped, but only for a while.
Upon arriving at the hospital they began a battery of tests including a chest x-ray. The doctor initially informed me that he had pneumonia and that he must have had it and that caused the seizure. I will tell you there was nothing wrong with that child two hours before. While at the county hospital, he had another seizure and required more valium.
I called a few close friends, prayer warrior friends, I needed to know there were people praying for our family and for the medical staff. In the meantime, Scott was at home quickly getting the other kids rounded up and headed for the hospital.
The doctor was soon telling us that he had called for a helicopter and that we needed to decide whether to send Quinton to Wichita or Kansas City. We both said Wichita. We had friends just 30 miles from Wichita and we felt certain they could meet us at the hospital.
They prepared Quinton for the flight and we watched him being loaded into the helicopter all the while praying for our precious little boy. That was one of the hardest days of my life! After the helicopter took off we ushered the others through the bathrooms quickly and decided we better feed them. By this point, it was 8 pm and no one had eaten supper. We drove through and got food for the kids but neither of us could eat.
The helicopter crew had taken down our cell phone numbers before leaving and assured us they would call when they landed. We were told it would take them about an hour to make the trip to Wichita. An hour came and went and no phone call. We shared many looks between the two of us that we each understood, “maybe if he didn’t make it they won’t call.” Rule one, I know you are busy taking care of my child but please call me if you say you will. Despite all this I prayed that not my will but God’s will be done. I felt a peace that I cannot explain. I knew that God would carry us through whatever lay ahead of us.
Continued in The Day Life Looked Very Different (Part 2)
Blessings,
Jennifer
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