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Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 17 2004, 01:13 PM

I have had two sick kids with pneumonia (one in hospital, one at home) the last 12 days.

We were hoping Elizabeth (4yrs,) would be out on Wednesday, now they are saying two more weeks, WTF?
She seems to take one step forward and two steps back, some kind of antibiotic resistant germ. They just put in a heart catheter for her IV, as it kept screwing up.

She has always been a drama queen when she gets sick and I made her wait till morning, for my wife to get home to take her to emergency, the day she went into hospital.
So I’m depressed, feel like a total shitbag and I have guilt.

Ethan is almost (not quite) his (2yr) old self again. I’m taking care of him at home and must stay strong for his sake, but still this sucks.

I’m not a religious man, but I’m praying hard now. Sorry for dumping on you guys, but I really miss her.

Posted by: davep Feb 17 2004, 01:17 PM

We feel for you and the family. We'll say a prayer.

DaveP

Posted by: tat2dphreak Feb 17 2004, 01:20 PM

Mark, our prayers are with you and your little girl. don't beat yourself up for decisions of "what if?" you can't do that to your self, and you can't do that to your family. we are here if you need a sounding board.

Posted by: Jenny Feb 17 2004, 01:21 PM

I'm not a religious gal myself, but I can definitely empathise with your concern. Don't feel guilty though. You'd never knowingly do anything to harm your children. It's hard to tell when they're really sick, or just trying to get some sympathy & attention. We'll say a prayer for your little ones.

Jen

Posted by: Carl Feb 17 2004, 01:34 PM

BTDT. No question that it makes you feel like a jerk when you find out the problem is real and serious.

Being a parent is a tough job. We're sending good thoughts your way.

Posted by: ! Feb 17 2004, 01:45 PM

Good luck...my worst recurring nightmare is my kids or wife getting seriously ill.

Posted by: GWN7 Feb 17 2004, 01:46 PM

Good thoughts from the Peg..........for you and your family.

Posted by: morphenspectra Feb 17 2004, 01:51 PM

Our thoughts are with you. Sorry you have to go through this, We almost lost our son on more than one occasion and this can be one of the most challenging times of a parents life.



Hiedi

Posted by: Qarl Feb 17 2004, 01:52 PM

Prayers

Big prayers headed your way. It's the only thing I can offer after all the kind thought that were returned to me when Hunter has been sick!

I'll keep Elizabeth in my thoughts.

Having your child sick in the hospital can be tough. Believe me, Hunter has accumulated over six months worth of inpatient care!

Chin up... she will get better soon.

Regards,

karl

Posted by: Eric_Shea Feb 17 2004, 01:55 PM

You have our prayers... best wishes.

Posted by: fiid Feb 17 2004, 01:57 PM

Hey,

Best wishes man. Hang in there.

Fiid.

Posted by: nebreitling Feb 17 2004, 02:05 PM

without children of my own, i can only imagine how difficult this can be. stay strong, your little girl will be on all of our hearts and minds today.

n

Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 17 2004, 02:07 PM

Thanks guys and gals.

This is Elizabeth


Attached image(s)

Posted by: Chris H. Feb 17 2004, 02:07 PM

It's never too late to start praying Mark. Take it from me. You can add 3 more to the prayer chain in Chicago. Don't waste any time blaming yourself either. You didn't do anything intentional. Just be strong for your family.


Chris H.

Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Feb 17 2004, 02:14 PM

Mark,

All my best wishes for a quick recovery.

Jeff

ps all members with children should read what the CDC and FDA have to say about antibiotic resistant bacteria:

http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/faqs.htm
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/795_antibio.html

over-prescribed antibiotics lead to resistant bacteria - you can control this directly

Posted by: rick 918-S Feb 17 2004, 02:29 PM

I'm not a religious guy either. I did that simlar thing with one of my boys. He had a piece of steak stuck in his asofiguse(sp) I didn't bring him in to the emergeny til the next day. He could even swallow his spit. He easily could have died. I will never live that down in my mind anyway. I can relate to your anguish over your decision. But I know how kids are, I thought mine just didn't want to eat supper. Your not the only one that's made a parenting mistake and you won't be the last. Hang in there man.

Posted by: maf914 Feb 17 2004, 02:36 PM

Mark, My thoughts are with you. Best wishes to your children and family.

Mike

Posted by: Bruce Allert Feb 17 2004, 02:45 PM

Mark, What a cutie. She has a face that looks like she should be on Broadway. No wonder she's a drama queen. As has been said, don't bring yourself down about decisions made, concentrate on the here & now. Positive thinking & prayers are best at this time. I'm sending all I have your way.

..........b

Posted by: Evill Ed Feb 17 2004, 02:56 PM

Mark, best wishes and prayers from my family to yours.

Regards,
Ed

Posted by: John Jentz Feb 17 2004, 03:13 PM

My prayers are with you Mark. Hang in there the battle is never over 'til its over. Don't look back, only look forward to her homecomming. And yes, she is a cutie!

Posted by: lmcchesney Feb 17 2004, 03:26 PM

Dear Mark and Family,

I’ll be technical for a moment. Elizabeth has an approximately 99% probability of recovery in the absence of a chronic immune or lung disease. Four year olds have developed an outstanding immune response even for apparent antibiotic resistant infections.
On the other side, God holds all of us in his hands. No act is done without a reason, even sickness. Remember the poem about footsteps in the sand? God IS with Elizabeth and will watch over her. Our faith is what provides the strength.
The joy of being a parent is such a fragile thing. Times like these teach us to hold a little longer and listen a little more closely. Your presence is the healing strength Elizabeth needs. No parent is perfect. Not even Mary and Joseph.
From my family to yours, Gods prayers and comfort.
Respectfully,
The McChesney Family

Posted by: JRust Feb 17 2004, 03:32 PM

Hey Mark our prayers are with you. Don't beat yourself up either. I almost lost my wife when she was pregnant one night. She had a fever I could tell. I took her temp & it only read 99.8 but she was really hurting. I called her doc & he had me take her temp again. Still just under 100. He says just keep her home unless it gets worse. The whole time my wife is suffering. I get a very strong impression to take her in anyway. I called back & said I was bringing her in. I did & she had a temp of 106.3 when they took it. I came very close to losing my son & my wife that night. I went thru alot of why the hell didn't you bring her down sooner. Some of which was from the doc. Talk about feeling like crap. Turns out or thermometer was faulty. It all worked out ok & it wasn't my fault. It was a learning experience though. I happen to be religous & I heard a saying once I liked. "There are no athiests in fox holes" . I think anytime you have someone you love hurt prayer is a natural response. Again many prayers coming your way! Take care

Posted by: watsonrx13 Feb 17 2004, 03:35 PM

We will add you and your family to our prayers, especially Elizabeth. Get well soon.

Posted by: StratPlayer Feb 17 2004, 03:37 PM

Geeez,,, I hope your little girl gets better quickly, our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Posted by: Gary Feb 17 2004, 03:42 PM

Praying big time. Having sick kids is tough.

Posted by: BravoHotel Feb 17 2004, 03:57 PM

prayers are on the way...

Posted by: SteveL Feb 17 2004, 04:11 PM

Mark,

I am very sorry to hear about Elizabeth. Keep your chin up and try to stay positive. Elizabeth and your whole family will be in our hearts and prayers.

Steve

Posted by: VegasRacer Feb 17 2004, 04:27 PM

Praying for the healing of you little angel.
Don't let you heart get to heavy.
Be strong for your family.

Posted by: boxstr Feb 17 2004, 04:30 PM

Mark We are all here for you and your family. Please let use know if there is anything you need.
CCL

Posted by: Kargeek Feb 17 2004, 04:44 PM

Mark,
We will include you in our family prayers tonight. Dave H

Posted by: Jeroen Feb 17 2004, 05:49 PM

Hey Mark (and family)

Hang in there...!
I'm not a religious person either, but our thoughts will be with Elizabeth for sure!

Don't be too hard on yourself... (I know, easier said than done, but still...)
We have a 3.5 year old daughter ourselves
One minute these kids can be sick as a dog, the next minute they're jumping up and down like nothing ever happened.
It's tough to make these kind of judgement calls on these little buggers.

Give her a big hug from all of us when you go visit her
(and your son and wife as well)

cheers,

Jeroen

Posted by: DNHunt Feb 17 2004, 06:01 PM

Little Elizabeth and your family are in my prayers

Dave

Posted by: scotty Feb 17 2004, 06:08 PM

Consider it done!

(we need a medic smilie)

Posted by: F4i Feb 17 2004, 06:10 PM

Best wishes to you and your family. My brother is deaf in one ear, my mom just thought he wasn't listening. They fought for just over a year. Finally went to the doc. These calls are hard to make. I recently cut the tendons in my hand on a drinking glass. I didn't even get it looked at for 24hrs. and I am a wuss. It's hard to know when to go. Take care

Posted by: vsg914 Feb 17 2004, 06:25 PM

Lord, please hear the prayers for these innocent children. Remove their suffering and pain. Return them to their family, and end the tears and guilt of their loving parents. Amen

Posted by: seanery Feb 17 2004, 06:39 PM

Well said Curt!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family mark.

Posted by: street legal go-kart Feb 17 2004, 08:08 PM

nothing sucks worse than your kid hurting and being helpless to making the hurt go away
all our prayers are for your daughter and the rest of the family tonite

miss mari ,jt and the creature

Posted by: ChrisReale Feb 17 2004, 09:34 PM

Best wishes to your daughter and family.
Chris

Posted by: KaptKaos Feb 17 2004, 10:01 PM

Prayers sent.

Many more to follow.

Please keep us posted.

God Bless.

- Joe & Family

Posted by: Rob Ways Feb 17 2004, 10:07 PM

Mark,

May God bless your kids and heal them now. May God surround them and touch them with healing and grace. May he protect them from harm. May he give you peace. May you have rest, so that your decisions are solid, and may your words speak truth and compassion to the people around you.

My wife and I will pray for you and your family tonight.

God Bless.

Posted by: Brad Roberts Feb 17 2004, 10:16 PM

Mark,

Lyressa and I wish your little girl the best of luck and hope she pulls thru with a speedy recovery.


B

Posted by: Duffster Feb 17 2004, 10:36 PM

Mark..

We're all thinking pure thoughts for your little angel and you too. Don't beat yourself up about the delay thing, they can get bad really fast with little or no warning and even the pros don't get it right a fair bit of the time. Good thoughts...Good thoughts...Good thoughts...

Posted by: Gint Feb 17 2004, 11:23 PM

Don't beat yourself up man. It will all be OK.

Posted by: Seagrave Feb 17 2004, 11:38 PM

Never underestimate the power of prayer. God answers those prayers, believe it. Add me to the prayer chain.

Posted by: ThinAir914 Feb 17 2004, 11:41 PM

One more family praying for your family. I'm sending it out to our church prayer chain too. Nothing knocks you off your feet like having your kid in peril. I've never felt so helpless in my life as when my daughter delivered our grandson by c-section because they thought the cord was wrapped around his neck. It makes you feel ill in ways that you never knew existed to have someone you love in danger like that.

Posted by: Hawktel Feb 18 2004, 01:05 AM

Much like you I'm not a religious man.

Unlike you I'm also a shit bag.

So I approached my sister (She is a good religious person) and she's going to pray for you. I hope for the best with your children.

Posted by: DuckRyder Feb 18 2004, 07:06 AM

Our prayes and thoughts are with you.

Posted by: itsa914 Feb 18 2004, 08:07 AM

Mark,

The Shaffer Family wish your little girl the best of luck and hope she pulls thru with a speedy recovery.
Don't beat yourself up, there is no manual that comes with the little ones.

- Garold

Posted by: si2t3m Feb 18 2004, 08:34 AM

Another familly praying for the little one.

Hope she gets better real soon.

Marc-André

Posted by: trapper Feb 18 2004, 10:42 AM

Mark, your darling little daughter is in our prayers too. Let us know when she is back home with her family. Glenn Trapp

Posted by: Eddie914 Feb 18 2004, 11:00 AM

You have our heartfelt prayers.

God Bless!

Posted by: Ferg Feb 18 2004, 11:00 AM

Your children are in our prayers.
Ferg.

Posted by: joea9146 Feb 18 2004, 04:06 PM

Best of luck hope all is well soon

Posted by: Pnambic Feb 18 2004, 08:43 PM

Almost exactly a year ago, I was in almost identical shoes as you. I had taken my family on our annual pilgrimage to the Mouseland in FL and my oldest, at that time almost three, had developed a persistent little cough. As any parents here know, he'd be run down and tired and almost to the point of making you worry, and them BAM! back to normal. On the drive back home, I stopped in on some relatives in Atlanta, GA and was talked into taking him to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital by one of my aunts. He too was diagnosed as having pnemonia.

I took him OUT of icy frozen tundra Indiana and down to nice sunny, warm Florida and he gets pnemonia! Wow, did I feel like sh!t.

We got lucky and caught it pretty quick and only needed to spend a single day in the hospital. Had I paid closer attention to it, I prolly could have prevented it entirely. But the way I look at it, someone has to help those hospitals stay on their toes and pay the bills in the meanwhile so they'll be around when I really need them.

As was mentioned above, kids are remarkably resiliant even in the face of pnemonia and I truly believe she'll be fine. Don't be hard on yourself, afterall, with all of our oh-so-pious members praying for her, how could God not be listening? (at least for a good laugh, right?)

Her quick recovery (especially for her dad's sake) will of course be in my and my family's prayers.



- Dan

Posted by: tesserra Feb 18 2004, 09:06 PM

Mark,
My mom, 78 yrs old and in ok health, had the tube thing put in her to administer antibiotics. She got a nasty infection from a foot operation and was in danger of loosing her foot.
My point is if a 78 yr old woman in OK health could get through it your daughter should get through it fine.
Your daughter will be fine and all this will be a distant memory.

George

Posted by: LS6/914 Feb 18 2004, 09:15 PM

Mark, You and your family will be in our prayers. I can testify to the power of prayer. I went through a period of time not believing, The Lord does answer prayer. Yours in Christ, Larry

Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 18 2004, 09:54 PM

Elizabeth is doing much better!

See this thread:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=9163

Posted by: indydad Feb 19 2004, 05:19 AM

My family is helping a friend in chemo now and it doesn't look good, but we are praying for her and your kids too. BELIEVE in the power of prayer and positive thoughts.
We are with you right now.
old dad in INDY & family