My Son, My Hero
Tougher than most...
Thursday, December 13, 2007 by messiah1 | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Well...after getting on the internet and looking up a few things we took our son Ethan to the doctor on Thursday due to some unusual nasty bruising he was getting all over his body. We were sent directly to the hospital for some blood work. We were told to stay put and wait. We were then sent back to the doctor where he informed us that he was pretty positive he didn't have leukemia but thought he may have what's called ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura) and that we needed to get him up to Lutheran Hospital ASAP to see a hematologist, Dr. O'Brian. They would be waiting for us. Let me tell you what....when you can get in to see a specialist without an appointment like right now you know it's serious.
Once we got to Lutheran they took more blood and we found out that ITP is a bleeding disorder caused when your body's defense system mounts an attack and destroys healthy blood platelets thinking they are disease-causing agents. Well, your platelets maintain the integrity of the blood vessels and basically keep you from bleeding to death when you get an injury. A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 400, 000. Anything less than 10,000 is considered an emergency. His count at Huntington was 10,000. By the time we got to Lutheran it was 7,000.
He was admitted into the children's hospital and given an IVIG, which is an infusion of healthy plasma that lasted about six hours. Besides taking his blood four times (a lot of it I might add) and having to put in an IV five times (he pulled out two in his sleep, two veins blew, and they had to put the final IV in his foot which meant he could not get out of bed for about 24 hours); one of the side affects of the IVIG is nausea. So he spent most of the day Friday puking everything he ate or drank back up so they ended up hooking him up to fluids. By Friday night his platelet count was up to 30,000 and by Saturday morning 85,000. They let us come home then. Now....we wait....and see if his body is going to maintain a normal platelet count. He has to go in once a week for a blood test.
During this whole ordeal Ethan was so brave and seldom cried and never had to be held down while everyone poked and prodded him over and over. It was so heartbreaking for us to see him go thru that but we were so proud of him for being so brave. We were told he may never have an episode again or he may have to deal with this his whole life. We'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime he has to take it easy. No craziness. Like jumping around on the furniture or from one bed to the next or basically anything a rambunctious three year old boy loves to do because of the chance of injury, especially a head injury. If you have a three year old boy you know that is easier said than done.
Why post here...I need to vent. It's frustrating for me to have to see my child go through that. All the while they were sticking needles in him, to see him look over at me with his pleading eyes seeming to say "Daddy, they're hurting me." And I couldn't do anything because I know that they are helping him...
He's a trooper. He's my hero.
Once we got to Lutheran they took more blood and we found out that ITP is a bleeding disorder caused when your body's defense system mounts an attack and destroys healthy blood platelets thinking they are disease-causing agents. Well, your platelets maintain the integrity of the blood vessels and basically keep you from bleeding to death when you get an injury. A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 400, 000. Anything less than 10,000 is considered an emergency. His count at Huntington was 10,000. By the time we got to Lutheran it was 7,000.
He was admitted into the children's hospital and given an IVIG, which is an infusion of healthy plasma that lasted about six hours. Besides taking his blood four times (a lot of it I might add) and having to put in an IV five times (he pulled out two in his sleep, two veins blew, and they had to put the final IV in his foot which meant he could not get out of bed for about 24 hours); one of the side affects of the IVIG is nausea. So he spent most of the day Friday puking everything he ate or drank back up so they ended up hooking him up to fluids. By Friday night his platelet count was up to 30,000 and by Saturday morning 85,000. They let us come home then. Now....we wait....and see if his body is going to maintain a normal platelet count. He has to go in once a week for a blood test.
During this whole ordeal Ethan was so brave and seldom cried and never had to be held down while everyone poked and prodded him over and over. It was so heartbreaking for us to see him go thru that but we were so proud of him for being so brave. We were told he may never have an episode again or he may have to deal with this his whole life. We'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime he has to take it easy. No craziness. Like jumping around on the furniture or from one bed to the next or basically anything a rambunctious three year old boy loves to do because of the chance of injury, especially a head injury. If you have a three year old boy you know that is easier said than done.
Why post here...I need to vent. It's frustrating for me to have to see my child go through that. All the while they were sticking needles in him, to see him look over at me with his pleading eyes seeming to say "Daddy, they're hurting me." And I couldn't do anything because I know that they are helping him...
He's a trooper. He's my hero.
 |
|
Page 4 of 10 | |
|
|---|
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #62 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:09 PM
Reply #62 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:09 PM
well alrighty then...that is good news. 
2of3
Reply #63 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:10 PM
Reply #63 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:10 PM
Thanks for the update!
Glad to hear some good news
Glad to hear some good news
Philly0381
Reply #64 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:01 PM
Reply #64 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:01 PM
Good news! I'll still keep Ethan and the rest of your family in my prayers, couldn't hurt.
WebGizmos
Reply #65 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:08 PM
Awesome Bud!
I hope it continues to climb! Climb you little suckers climb! 
Reply #65 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:08 PM
Some good news...Ethan went in today for his second IVIG treatment and they did a blood test first. His count had rebounded to 38,000 on it's own.
Awesome Bud!
I hope it continues to climb! Climb you little suckers climb! 
ZubaZ
Reply #66 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:17 PM
Reply #66 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:17 PM
Apparently reply#42 was teh answer. Stick with what yorudoing everyone!
Great news messiah
Great news messiah
sydneysiders
Reply #67 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:32 PM
Reply #67 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:32 PM
that's fantastic messiah.......glad he didn't have to go through that treatment again........hope you're over the worst of it now......
Shenaynay
Reply #68 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:52 PM
Reply #68 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:52 PM
Messiah, I just read this today. It breaks my heart to know your son is going through this! I'm joining forces with the others. You, your boy, and your family are in my thoughts and prayers too. We won't stop until he's made a full recovery!
sViz
Reply #69 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:25 PM
Reply #69 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:25 PM
That's good news, mess!
Still sending good thoughts your way, and hoping for a continued recovery.
Still sending good thoughts your way, and hoping for a continued recovery.
Xiandi
Reply #70 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:32 PM
Reply #70 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:32 PM
Oh, thats's so good to hear! I'll be praying that he keeps recovering.
Frankief
Reply #73 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:32 PM
Reply #73 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:32 PM
I am quite sure you have researched this thoroughly but found the following article encouraging. Thank God it wasn't leukemia as I have relatives that have experienced this with their children. You have a handsome young man and I will include your family in my words to God. Hope you both can keep a stiff upper lip and I feel for you all.
"Acute ITP in children often goes away on its own within a few weeks or months and doesn’t return. In 80 percent of children who have ITP, the platelet count returns to normal within 6 to 12 months. Treatment may not be needed. A small number of children, about 5 percent, whose ITP doesn’t go away on its own may need to have further medical or surgical treatment.
"Acute ITP in children often goes away on its own within a few weeks or months and doesn’t return. In 80 percent of children who have ITP, the platelet count returns to normal within 6 to 12 months. Treatment may not be needed. A small number of children, about 5 percent, whose ITP doesn’t go away on its own may need to have further medical or surgical treatment.
cplair
Reply #74 Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:44 AM
That's a beautiful baby boy Steve!
And obviously he has his Father's heart, so that's why he's as strong as he is!
No words can make a parent feel any salvation when it comes to their child being hurt or sick. All I can say is that you came to the right place to vent my brother.
You've been there for the community and we're there for you!
The biggest Christmas present that I'm asking for is for the best of health for young Ethan.
If there's anything I can do, just name it Steve.
All my love and the best of health to you and your family dear friend.
Curtis
Reply #74 Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:44 AM
That's a beautiful baby boy Steve!
And obviously he has his Father's heart, so that's why he's as strong as he is!
No words can make a parent feel any salvation when it comes to their child being hurt or sick. All I can say is that you came to the right place to vent my brother.
You've been there for the community and we're there for you!
The biggest Christmas present that I'm asking for is for the best of health for young Ethan.
If there's anything I can do, just name it Steve.
All my love and the best of health to you and your family dear friend.
Curtis
mrs_starkers
Reply #76 Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:41 AM
Reply #76 Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:41 AM
Very encouraging news indeed, hugs and blessings to you all
kenwas
Reply #77 Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:57 AM
Reply #77 Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:57 AM
Great news! When I first read that his count had dropped again, it was so damned depressing and scary and then to continue on and find that the count went back up on its own....wow...just great news...must have been quite a wonderful feeling to hear that and not have the lad go through another treatment! My prayers for your family and that it continues on this upward trend.
unclerob
Reply #78 Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:10 PM
Reply #78 Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:10 PM
your son's strength during his ordeal is a reflection of the great parents he has,
you did a great job raising such a strong kid and you are allowed to vent as much as possible here or anywhere else for that matter.
Being a parent is tough without having to see your children suffer - it's probably the worst thing a parent has to go through is see their child be hurt or suffer in any way. I know he is going to get better and you need to believe in that too, visualize in your mind & heart that he will be strong again and you will see, it will happen, just believe it.
you did a great job raising such a strong kid and you are allowed to vent as much as possible here or anywhere else for that matter.
Being a parent is tough without having to see your children suffer - it's probably the worst thing a parent has to go through is see their child be hurt or suffer in any way. I know he is going to get better and you need to believe in that too, visualize in your mind & heart that he will be strong again and you will see, it will happen, just believe it.
ArileenDesign
Reply #79 Saturday, December 22, 2007 9:43 AM
Reply #79 Saturday, December 22, 2007 9:43 AM
Greats news!! i keep your son in my prayers
theAVMAN
Reply #80 Saturday, December 22, 2007 10:11 AM
Reply #80 Saturday, December 22, 2007 10:11 AM
Glad Ethan is doing better you Ethan and family are in our prayers!
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 4 of 10 | |
|
|---|
Reply #61 Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:09 PM