Another Medical Mistake!

Yet ANOTHER medical mistake! 

Remember Denver?  When Manny’s TPN pump died and by the time we got off the plane he was non-responsive?  The glucometer read 07.  They didn’t believe it and ran it again.  Dripping with sweat, but clammy cold.  Eyes rolled in the back of his head but eyes open.  Etc. 

Remember in August when his TPN pump died the same night as our small house fire?  And how when Dan moved him, he was non-responsive.  Same other symptoms. 

Well, last night was another scary, scary moment just like this all over again.  Dan moved him to his bed (which is a hospital bed touching my bed so I can reposition him all night).  He seemed fine.  I put his bipap on, etc.  I went to sleep. 

1am he started getting really restless.  He seemed like he couldn’t find a comfortable position.  I removed pillows, repositioned him countless times.  Each time he would settle for 5 minutes and then complaining again.  (NOT typical for him).   And then we’d drift off to sleep. 

About 1:45 he was not just complaining but he was saying WEIRD things.  Like one time he said something about his neck being cold.  I put on a blanket.  I started wondering what it could all be about in my half-awake state.  Then around 2am, he said his leg was broken.  It was like he was hallucinating. 

It finally triggered me to turn on a light and do a thorough inspection.  I felt like I got a word of knowledge (I Cor 12 reference) to check his TPN pump.   Now mind you, he is having NONE of the symptoms mentioned above.  He’s clearly not non-responsive as he’s sorta talking to me.  He’s not clammy, cold, sweating, etc.  THOSE symptoms I recognize immediately! 

So on a whim I check his pump and it’s not on.  In fact, it’s not been started since it was connected at 8pm.  So he’s 6 hours overdue for his TPN.  I immediately get him a dose of glucose.  I start his pump.  And then I do a glucose test.  It was 26.  I shudder to think what it was before I started treating him. 

At this point, he goes non-responsive.  He doesn’t even flinch when I do his glucometer test on his toe. 

And it hits me … he SHOULD have been non-responsive this whole time.  How in the heck did he communicate to me the need for help? 

I ponder.  Dan and I pray a prayer of thanksgiving for sparing his life yet again.  We try to go back to sleep knowing his blood sugar is back under control. 

Mercifully, we were able to sleep. 

I awoke this morning with a scripture memory song I learned years ago, “And He shall give His angels charge over you…” It’s a happy little diddy and I woke up with this thought. 

I went over to Bible Gateway on my iphone from my bed (I wasn’t about to leave Manny).  And I typed this message on Facebook:

Last night, about 2 am, we were awakened to a life threatening medical problem with Manny in a dramatic fashion. We were able to handle it and he is now fine again. We were even (mercifully) able to eventually go back to sleep (which is often difficult after traumatic experiences).

 

I will share more details later. But I woke up with these verses in my head.

 

For those who trust The Lord, We TRULY can trust God with our very lives. He WILL find ways to alert us to problems. He WILL get our attention. He WILL teach us, in those moments, knowledge that is beyond our normal human capacity. For he who has an ear to hear, let him hear.

 

Psalm 91:9-16

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 

"Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

 

It was painfully clear to me that God sent angels to do “something” to Manny and rouse him enough to talk to me and tell me that he needed help.  And then the word of knowledge to know what to look for and what to do. 

It was also very clear that yesterday was NOT Manny’s time to go be with The Lord.  Or I would have woken up to a lifeless baby next to me.  And the reality of that has hit me so many times today it’s not funny. 

But the worst part?  The part I’m having trouble with?  It was MY fault.  I hooked him up.  This wasn’t a pump failure.  This was human error.  I know it happens every day.  I know it’s not possible to be perfect.  It’s something I’ll have to “forgive” myself for.  But as of right this second, I don’t have that peace yet.  I’m NOT searching for people to give me a pep talk or tell me how many times I’ve kept Manny alive or that I need to let it go or whatever.  I’m simply sharing the ups and downs of this adventure with Manny.  And today’s reality is … My mistake almost cost my kid his life. 

But God. 

Never forget how much He loves you and cares for you.  He rejoices over you with singing.  (Zeph 3:17).  Did you know that?  God SINGS over you.  He’s not a distant, angry God.  He loves you and delights to spend time with you. 

 

The gratefulness
that God has us
in the palm of His hands is overwhelming.