Breathing Space

It was supposed to be a routine appointment with our neurologist in the hospital, but it turned into an ER visit.

After an hour-long discussion about tone and seizure medications punctuated by the steady beeping of Aviva’s saturation monitor, which was hovering at 86, the good doctor determined a stethoscope examination was in order. And after that, he decided a chest X-ray would be a wise idea and personally escorted us down the hall to our friends in the ER.

Several hours, one X-ray, one ultrasound, and a pulmonologist examination later, we were discharged with a diagnosis of pneumonia, a prescription for antibiotics, and a recommendation to attach Aviva to her respirator all the time, not just at night, a suggestion I shoved to the back of my mind.

Aviva left to day care the next day, leaving her respirator behind. Taking it out of the house would be so impractical. Using it at home after school hours would have to suffice. I hoped the antibiotics would kick in soon, and we could put this story behind us.