If You're Not Riding the Ambulance, You're Not Trying...

So just before 11 a.m. this morning, my orderly week went kaput. Phone call from Tim's school letting me know that he needed to go to the ER because he was exhibiting "neurological symptoms" while out in the community that were consistent with the symptoms of a rare but life-threatening condition called Neuroleptic Malignancy Syndrome.

Patty Kiki was near the Naval Hospital so she met me in the ER parking lot to take Charlie and his carseat. (This location was probably, in retrospect, not calculated for calm and non-traumatic transition).

Despite the fact that Tim's episode occurred within a mile of the Naval Hospital, I beat the ambulance by 10-minutes because I did not have to stabilize Tim or adhere to SOP for ambulance transit (i.e., following posted speed limits, freeway vs. local street driving, etc.).

Initially, he was pale and pretty out-of-it. Paramedics were fairly sure that he had a seizure despite my regimented medication dosing and therapeutic blood levels...just underscores that body chemisty/electricity does not yield in the presence of Queen Control Freak.

Generally, an unimpressive experience--suffice it to say Tim got the novice IV-placer, managed to pull out the ineffective IV (couldn't get blood out of it as it was against a valve), had to have a second poke, lost/missing urine sample caused us to make a fifth trip to the restroom and only after returning, victorious, learned they'd found the first one, never had an actual M.D. lay a stethoscope upon Tim, no neurological screening assessment, and so much more). :(

But, the almighty labs looked fine so after about 4 hours of waiting around, he was sent home with directions to call his neurologist next week.

Back at the ranch, Patty Kiki endured nearly 3 hours of Charlie's ill-humor and intermittent sobbing (including, yes, a reprisal of his hit routine, "Get Out of Bis House!") until his beloved sitter, daughter of Patty De De (there, baby, you have received the mention you're long overdue!) arrived to relieve Patty Kiki.

If it's any consolation, Charlie's eyeglasses didn't get fixed, he missed some therapy, and the J-Crabs had to leave camp a little early ... oh, and my toes remain in desperate need of a pedicure. Oh, and there will be that matter of Triwest claims for the ambulance ride.