Oliver caught the flu and spent the morning sick on the couch. He fell asleep and as he slept I noticed he wasn’t breathing well. I am well versed in asthmatic kids at this point and could tell that he needed a doctor and probably a dose of steroids. I tried to call the doctor to make a home visit since I didn’t want to make the poor kid walk to the doctor, but we couldn’t get through. Off we went to the doctor’s office!
After the usual hour wait, the doctor took a look at him and let us know that she could not give him the medicine he obviously needed – he needed a lung specialist. She told us to go to the main hospital. I called my neighbor to take care of my other kids while Oliver and I headed to the train to get to the hospital. When we arrived in the emergency room, we were told we had to go to the children’s clinic in another building. After getting lost in the huge hospital complex, we finally found the children’s clinic. More waiting. This poor little guy was so patient. In hindsight, I probably should have just called the ambulance, but in the USA it never felt this complicated to get asthma treatments. After being examined, we got to take a wheelchair to go get x-rays. He thought that was super awesome. There was a nice lady waiting in the x-ray room who gave him a piece of candy. Oliver was so excited about his little piece of candy.
After blood tests, x-rays, lots of oxygen level tests, two doses of steroids, and three breathing treatments, the doctor let us know that Oliver needed to be admitted to the hospital. There were no beds in the hospital we were in, or the one down the street, so the doctor told me the name of the hospital we would be going to and told me that an ambulance would take them there. I used the last few minutes of battery power on my phone to text my neighbor who told me not to worry, my other kids would be fine staying with her. Oliver was once again, super excited. He got to ride in another wheel chair, meet ambulance drivers, have an oxygen mask, and ride in a real ambulance with the lights on. As he got settled in for his ride, he looked over at me and mouthed, “WOW!” I took this photo and then my phone died.
We got to the hospital around 9:30pm, got checked in, begged a phone charger off of the nurse, and checked my messages to find that another friend had heard what was going on and asked if she could send anything. She had also told another friend who happened to be our home teacher from church. He had also texted to see if he could come by and offer a blessing for Oliver and anything else we needed. I didn’t even know exactly where I was as we had come in an ambulance at night to a hospital across the city from where we started. Thank goodness for google maps and a phone that knew our location! An hour later our home teacher Peter came with dinner for me, candy for Oliver, toothpaste, a battery backup for my phone, and words of comfort and healing for my son. With him was another friend whose wife had sent pajamas, a toothbrush, snacks, and some really good chocolate. My neighbor had texted to let me know that my kids were all comfortably sleeping and that she would take care of them so I didn’t need to worry.
The hospital stay was interesting. The staff was super nice. They brought Oliver whatever he wanted for breakfast – so every day he asked for a semmel, nutella, and hot chocolate. The menu was pretty tasty for the other meals. There was a teacher who came and did German lessons with Oliver everyday, playing games with him, teaching him new words, and giving him worksheets to do. Oliver was on oxygen for three days while all the doctors came and did blood tests, steroid shots, breathing treatments, and then said they would wait and see how things went before deciding if he needed antibiotics or not.
Meanwhile my mother-in-law was about to fly into town with my niece, Chris was in the USA, and I needed a change of clothes. One friend came to stay with Oliver while I headed home to take care of a few things. Another friend brought food for me, groceries for my family, and helped clean my apartment to prepare for my mother-in-laws arrival. I had friends mopping my floors, folding my laundry, providing baby-sitting, books for Oliver to read, meals for me, visits every day in the hospital, cold drinks, meals for my family at home, and rides for my mother-in-law and niece from the airport. More friends took Marion and James to and from kindergarten, brought the kids to visit Oliver in the hospital, and sat with Oliver while I took walks or traveled to check on my other children.
As Oliver continued to improve, he had physical therapy for his lungs, more tests and breathing treatments, and we both had a lot of time for stillness, quiet, and reflection without distractions. I read books to Oliver and books to myself. I read my scriptures. I wrote in my journal. I thought about God. I prayed. And while I was there I felt the strength of prayer – my own and the prayers of others. Many people asked if I was okay, and truly I was. I felt strengthened during that time. I felt the love of heaven and of friends. It was an indescribable experience. Truly I knew we were being watched over and I felt closer to my Heavenly Father in that week than I had in a long time. I felt the web of love and caring that came from friends and family all over the world who were offering their prayers and love in our behalf. It was beautiful.
Oliver learned a lot about oxygen levels, how to properly use an inhaler, had lung function tests, got a new Lego set, and got used to sleeping with tubes in his nose. As he healed and his oxygen levels came up, he prayed also. He prayed that he would be home in time to go to church on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, we packed up to go home. He was so happy to attend church the next day, even though it was exhausting for him. During all of this, he was patient, calm, and brave. Through all the tests, needles, and prodding he didn’t complain. I am so grateful for him and his sweet disposition.
Looking back, this was an experience that everyone would want to avoid. It was scary, hard, and the effects have been long lasting. And yet I wouldn’t change it. It was a time of peace, love, and gratitude. I knew he would be okay, and more than that, I knew we were being watched over by loved ones here and also by heaven above. I felt it so completely. I am so grateful for all our amazing friends here who are like family to us, who took care of us during this time. I am grateful to God for Oliver’s health and healing and for the peace and strength He blessed us both with throughout the whole experience.
