Update on my Family

[TsN|Wildchild|xmen]

I felt you guys should be in the know.

I would just like to say that I never really was a religious man. Sure I was an alterboy when I was young. I was baptized and had my communion, born on Christmas day I went to church on Christmas, but that's about it. I have never argued with someone and told them their view on religion was wrong. I believed in something higher than me, but I didn't know what to believe. This Christmas proved to me that God is real and I have the christmas present to prove it. My daughter.

Last friday, December 16th, is a day I will never forget. I was at work and my wife calls me telling me she is picking up our 16 month old daughter from day care. She is sick, throwing up. She calls her doctor and they are booked and tell her its probably the flu thats going around so take her home and bring her in monday. My wife nearly did but changed her mind and took her to her original pediatrician. She said the same thing, "It's probably just the flu... but just so I can sleep tonight take her to the hospital and get a CTScan done." That doctor will forever be on my praying list as that second guess saved my daughters life.

My wife got the scan done and the only doctor who could read it at the time was leaving for the weekend and just happened to pass by and read it on his way out. I heard he was in jeans and a polo shirt. He took one look at it turned to the nurse and said, "Call Lifestar, they need to be here in five minutes. Mrs. McIntyre, you need to get to the Pediatric Medical center in ten minutes your daughter has blood on her brain. I'll call them now before I leave."

I get the call at work and I race through traffic faster than it has ever been done on this Island I think. My wife goes in the helicopter with our daughter to the hospital. She goes into surgery six hours after all this began and comes out fine. Apparently she had blood on her brain and it was pushing her brain against the side of her head making her sick. They had to go in and remove a section about an inch wide and four inches long of her skull to drain the blood. They glued her skull back on and gave her 24 stitches. Two hours after surgery, my daughter, with IV's still in her arm and foot, is talking and jumping around her crib like nothing happened. The next day her head was real swollen and her eye was swollen shut by that night but still nothing stopped her from smiling. We were in the hospital from Friday afternoon at 2:30 until Monday afternoon at 1:00. The whole time she was talking and running and laughing, like nothing was ever wrong. she actually learned a lot of new words in the hospital, even to saying short sentences. She never once cried at anything other than the nurses who had to wake her up to check her vitals or give her her antibiotic. She was on Tylenol for the pain, which she took three times I think while at the hospital. She hasn't been fussy at all.

We spoke with one of the investigating doctors, everytime a child is hurt they investigte for child abuse of course. Routine, but it doesn't make the innocent parents feel any better. They said that everything was fine, but if that doctor hadn't second guessed herself and sent her to get a CTscan, she would possibly thrown up a few more times and have fallen asleep that night and never woke up again. I was literally hours from losing my daughter, and didn't know it.

Sitting back and thinking about it while at the hospital, everything happened the way it should have. Our doctor was busy and probably wouldn't have requested the scan, the other doctor had no real reason to ask for a CTScan but did, the doctor that looked at her results almost left and didn't have to call a friend of his, who just happened to be one of the best child brain surgens around. I mean, everything that happens like that makes you think. And someone was looking over her that is for sure. My wife wasn't suppose to have children, they told hershe never would. When she was born she was a miracle for her and me, and now this. It just seems ot me like she has a big purpose for someone to watch over her like that. Am I a born again Christian? I wouldn't insult anyone and say yes, but I am a believer and will be going to church with my daughter every Sunday now.

Out of this entire ordeal the only person who was strong and stayed calm was my daughter. She really kept my wife and I in check. We broke down a lot thats for sure, but looking at her acting like nothing happened was a Godsend. And for that , yes I now pray.

[Spinning Hat]

Wow... Man, I am glad your daughter is doing well. I have two kids, and when my son was younger we had to take him to the hospital... Scariest thing in a parent's life, having to be in there, and see your little one hooked up to tubes and machines... damn man, that was all more than just a coincidence having all those things go the "right" way.... Amazing.

[TimberWolf]

Wow, talk about perfect timing of events. Glad to hear everying is fine again and that your Daughter never lost her smile. It sounds like there is a plan layed out for your family and powers stepping into the light to make it so.

[Sharpster]

Wow... Man... I'm so happy it all worked out man... She was lucky, God definatley wants her here for a reason.

[XMEN Iceman]

Thanks for sharing my friend. That is a very emotional story.

I agree with you, God has a way of showing you what is important and that life is very precious. Especially our children.

I am glad to hear everything is alright.

David

[X Rogue]

God bless that doctor who read the scan. In fact, bless 'em all. I'm glad to hear all is well.

[XMEN Gambit]

Yowza! Ditto and double ditto.

[XMEN_Hammer]

For some reason find myself crying right now...

After this year of watching both my father and father in law, go through open heart surgury, i find myself a little easier to get emotional...

My heart goes out to you WC, I almost let my youngest son (Firebird) dye on our couch from socalled flu, but finally decided to take him for a second opinion, and he had double pneumonia. they told me a few more hours and his lungs would of never recovered, a liftime on a ventalator. So I fell your pain and happiness all over again after reading this..

[TsN|Wildchild|xmen]

Thank you all for your comments.

And Hammer, I can feel for you and now understand the concept of possible loss. I didn't know about your son and I am glad he is well. I had walking pneumonia when I was a teenager and thought it was the flu. I ended up in the hospital for a week. I lost about twenty pounds due to that and it took years to put it back on. Actually it took going to the Marines to put it back on.

My daughter is doing very well. She had her sticthes taken out and has not stopped. She is far more active then she was before, and boy was she before. With her stiches out and her hair growing back you can't really tell anything happened. She is in good spirits however and looking at her laugh and giggle and play makes it all the more special.

I won't lie and say I wanted a girl. I love my son. I love rough housing with him picking on him, wrestling. Hell we even paintballed this past weekend and I enjoyed it very much, shooting him as he ran away. It was pretty funny to knee cap him and watch him flail about on the ground crying and laughing at the same time. Until he shot me in the butt, and I do mean butt. Not the cheek, but right on the crack. Boy did that hurt. But I had to laugh because we are guys and guys get hurt and enjoy it. (The bruise is nice too, my wife enjoyed laughing at me for it)

When I was told I was having a daughter I was disappointed yes. Not for having a baby but because I wanted another boy. But seeing her being born, watching her laugh and play. Even the smell of her. She is definately special. The saying that girls are different are true. I would never have it any other way. I love both my kids, none more than the other. But a special place is held in the heart of a father for his daughter, especially now.

My wife and I now fight over who gets to put her to sleep as she usually lays on our chest for an hour before we put her to bed. More for our comfort than the babies I'm sure.

[DarkKnife]

Me hugs Wildchild and Hammer.
Glad your families are doing better. Me hope to start my own in the next year.

[XMEN Ashaman DTM]

Wow. I'm really glad to hear that she's doing well.

I don't have kids. I would like them someday.

I'm very glad things are better for you.