Disneyland.... Febrile seizures, a glimpse into the future?

After the term "febrile seizure" came into our vocabulary, fever management became serious business in our house. A temp of 100 earned Motrin ASAP. We found that worked best for Arthur. 

We had one more trip to the ER for a less dramatic seizure. But for the most part our crazy temperature control seemed to be working plus those ear tubes sure helped :).

As many parents know, ear tubes fall out. He had lost one but had been healthy so it wasn't a huge worry.

So with family in town off to Disneyland we went. Of course that morning he seemed like a cold may be coming but was so excited for his big day.

For the most part, it was a great day. He got to meet his all time favorite Woody!

Life is ever changing and flips on a dime. As we found out waiting in line for the submarine.

I was holding him and he rested his head on my shoulder. He was only 3yrs old at the time. All that walking would tire any of us out.
But as we were in a line a lady behind me said, " Is he OK?"

Here I think he's asleep.

So I pull him away from my chest as to lean him back and he's a rag doll. Face blue, eyes rolled in the back of his head.

Back then I didn't think seizure. I think my heart child is in cardiac arrest. So as if in a Lifetime Movie
 ( always have to find the humor) I ran with my limp, little boy in my arms, screaming
 " Some body help me!!!"
You know what played in my head? Clocks by Cold Play
Probably too much Third Watch at the time
My whole life could have a soundtrack, my children are no exception

I make it to one of the walkways and just like in a movie this guy appears.

I still think it's one of Arthur's many guardian angles.

He stops me and says he is there to help. To just lay Arthur down on the walkway so he can look at him. I explain about the ear infections and febrile seizures, etc. He points out that Arthur is breathing, he feels warm. He bets it was just a febrile seizure.

Then the Disneyland nurses appear and that guy is gone.
 Just like that.

Arthur is taken away from Disneyland in an ambulance. Not exactly how you want to exit the park.

The story I hear from family is Disney wasted no time swooping in to calm my 3yr old niece who was with us when this happened. Who's her favorite character? Food? And like ninja magic, toys and balloons appeared for her.

Disneyland handled this whole incident amazingly well.
 I'm forever grateful.

We went to the ER and he got some whopping doses of Tylenol. He did indeed have a  fever and another ear infection. Sheesh! He got his second set of ear tubes after that.

There was one thing they did mention in the ER that day....

That children who have febrile seizures have a higher risk of developing epilepsy later on.

It wasn't until a day at the soccer field, some 7yrs later, did those words come back into my mind.

(Arthur that day at Disneyland before "it" happened)

Arthur

Arthur was born a month early on a beautiful August day in 1999.

After his Mother, me, spent 12 weeks in bed. 

Arthur had been diagnosed in utero with a heart condition called

Transposition of the Great Vessels

( The Amazing Heart surgeon doing what he does best)

His start in the world was a rough one. He had open heart surgery at 5days old to repair his defect. Subsequently spending the next 5weeks in the ICU recovering.

( Not Arthur, but exactly what it looked like when he was in ICU)

The year that followed was full of doctors appointments, hospitals stays, ear infections. You name it, he probably dealt  with.

But despite the cards he had been dealt he was the happiest, go with the flow baby. I would have had a hundred more if they could all have his sweet disposition.

Once he hit his 1yr birthday his health seemed to drastically improve besides constant ear infections. He was finally off his daily heart medicines. We thought he was in the clear. But those evil little ear infections could make my poor little guy oh so sick.

At 15months he spiked a fever over 104. We tried Tylenol, we tried Motrin. Tepid Baths, etc.
nothing brought it down. Through it all he was such a trooper. He sat on the floor, looking oh so pitiful. Playing with his cars, as if saying " I'm just fine Mommy."

We placed a call into the pediatrician and were told to go to the ER. As soon as we got to our curtained off room it started.

A full blown Grand Mal seizure......while in his Daddy's arms.

I can't even explain how awful it is to watch your child's whole body convulse and see the shear terror in his eyes.

After several doses of Ativan it stopped. He was transported to the local children's hospital for 5days of testing. Testing the showed nothing more then that he merely had a common childhood virus. 

The seizure?

His first FEBRILE seizure.

A febrile seizure is defines as "  a convulsion associated with a significant rise in body temperature. They most commonly occur in children between the ages of 6 months to 6 years and are twice as common in boys as in girls."

Doctor #1

Arthur got referred to a neurologist.
 We sat in the little room and I told the story of what has been happening. He examined Arthur and what did he say???

Migraines

Are you freaking kidding me? I may not be a doctor. But I know this is not migraines.

My heart and head said seizures from the day it started.

So needless to say we never went back to that guy