my heart

Free People Top / Jeans $59 / Michael Kors Boots / Black Ray-Bans / Clhei gold Tote

Gwen – Leopard Booties / Socks / Vince shirt dress

Free People Top / Jeans $59 / Michael Kors Boots / Black Ray-Bans / Clhei gold Tote

Gwen – Leopard Booties / Socks / Vince shirt dress

…

Like any mother, my heart beats for my kids. I would do absolutely anything to make sure they feel loved, to remind them they are appreciated, and to keep them safe and protected. That’s why last Tuesday my little Gwen gave me a huge scare. What started off as a minor cold in the morning ended up as three-day trip to the hospital by an ambulance that evening.

As I look back on a really hard week for our family—and especially for our sweet girl– I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly thankful for all of the events that led to Gwen’s recovery. On Tuesday morning I was early to my exercise class, so I took a rare moment before class started to sit in my car and organize the handouts I received from school that morning at “drop-off.” One of the papers in particular stood out to me; it was a pamphlet describing the symptoms of EnterOvirus, a violent flu-like virus that recently breached pockets of the Northeast corridor, New Jersey and New York. I sat in the driver’s seat and read all three pages of it, not knowing later that day I would come to know the effects of this virus in a very real and personal way. When I picked Gwen up from school on Tuesday afternoon she was her usual spunky and happy self. As is our routine, we stayed for a good hour on the playground so she could play on the monkey bars, swinging back and forth, back and forth. When we got home, however, I knew something wasn’t quite right. Immediately she turned to me and said, “Mom I think I need a rest.” Within ten minutes she was coughing uncontrollably. An hour later she was vomiting. The symptoms were quick and intense, so we rushed her to the nearest Urgent Care. Because I read the pamphlet on EnteroVirus earlier that morning I knew Gwen needed medical attention, and I knew she needed it fast.

In the car ride on the way to the Urgent Care, Gwen’s breathing became heavy and she grew dangerously lethargic. In a matter of only ten minutes, Gwen’s oxygen levels dropped into the danger zone (79) and my husband and I panicked more and more. She was struggling to breathe and I’ve never been more scared. We were granted our second major blessing though, in the form of our Urgent Care doctor. On call that night was a pediatric ER physician who knew exactly how to handle Gwen’s case and calm all of us down. He stabilized Gwen’s oxygen levels and brought her out of the danger zone, which is an oxygen level closer to an 85-90. After getting her oxygen level to an 85, he prepared her to go in an ambulance to the hospital. We stayed there for three days until the virus passed. While at the hospital, we met several other families with the same virus and still others with chronic illnesses. Everywhere I turned there was a constant reminder to me of how precious life is; an invitation to treat this gift with better care, increased thoughtfulness, and more gratitude.

As I look back on a really scary week for our family—and I have learned in my life that there are no coincidences. I believe in guardian angels and I know Heaven is real. Prayer is real. Last week, our ER doctor was Gwen’s guardian angel. He called us each night at the hospital to check in on our little girl and to express his concern for her return to health. I also know my prayers were answered; both by the professionals attending to my sweet daughter, and also by the amazing way this experience unfolded. If I didn’t miraculously have an extra minute before my exercise class, I wouldn’t have read the pamphlet about EnteroVirus and gained a specific knowledge of how to respond to Gwen’s situation. While I was in the hospital for the better part of last week I started replaying Gwen’s panic in the ambulance and the saddest  moment when she looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, “Don’t let me die, Mom.” I recognized that motherhood is filled with moments when I need to be able to rely on power much greater than my own both for comfort and knowledge. It’s a job I can’t do by myself. I’m grateful I had guardian angels by my side when I needed them the most, to help me keep my Gwen safe last week. I’m thankful that Gwen has a positive attitude about most things, even the hospital food that was always burnt or the wrong order. She is a trooper and I’m proud of her.

2 books I read last week that kept me going during the hospital – HAPPIER by Tal Ben Shahar and deliberate Motherhood by power of moms. Learning to be present and conscious of how we mother.  It is not about decorating birthday cakes, sewing halloween costumes, or being the most on-the-ball classroom mom.  It is about discovering the talents, skills, heart, and strength that is unique to each of us . . . . and utilizing this power to create a life in which your family can love and thrive. Looking into their eyes and seeing our kids for who they are and what they can become.

SOME THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT ENTEROVIRUS:

When your kids get the cold this season, please watch them closely. This virus acts fast, even in a matter of hours. It particularly affects children with asthmatic or respiratory problems. Gwen doesn’t have asthma but she does have eczema. I didn’t know before our time at the hospital, but these two conditions are linked. It’s common that kids with eczema and asthma have weakened immune systems, which has been particularly helpful in understanding why poor Gwen has gone through so much these last few years. She gets hit hard multiple times during flu season.

AT A GLANCE:

EnteroVirus is known to last 7-10 days; Any oxygen levels below 90 are considered alarming and should be in doctor’s care;You can help your kids prevent exposure by washing hands multiple times a day; Wash clothes regularly;Wash up after school;Put sanitizer in your child’s lunchbox to remind him/her to wash before eating;stay hydrated;keep pedialyte at your house;stay healthy with vitamins and healthy fruit & veggies

xx

Jenna