Answered Prayer and A Very Special Nurse

Tuesday evening Cody was up in the night with severe abdominal pain. I seriously considered rushing him to the emergency room but didn’t on account of several things. I had been in talks with doctors over the past several days (weeks, really) trying to get him help, but he kept getting misdiagnosed. After Tuesday evening’s scare I was on the phone trying to get Cody seen by a GI specialist even sooner. Cody’s doctor got him to a GI specialist who was actually booked for several weeks but made an exception. I took him to have labs done that evening and got a call from our doctor’s partner around 11:30 as I was going to bed. She said his hemoglobin count was concerningly low and considered sending him to the hospital until she found out this was a chronic problem. Still, I was told he was bleeding internally, and that sent me to bed with so many worries and prayers. The next day, Cody was admitted into the hospital where he got prepped for a colonoscopy and an upper GI scope the next morning. The amount of medicine Cody had to take was unreal, and he struggled at first taking it because it tasted so badly and was a lot to consume. The nurse he had was pretty much ready to stick tubes down his nose in order for him to take the medicine (the tubes would stay in for at least 6 hours.) She mentioned this a few times and began looking at the clock to hurry the process up. I told her I would get him to take the medicine, and then I looked down, fighting to keep the tears at bay. I knew the tubes would completely scare Cody especially after getting an IV stuck in him. I hated to see that. I sat on the hospital bed with Cody snuggled up in my arms feeling completely helpless to get him to take the medicine. Shawn was out with Anna picking up a few things, so it was all up to me. I quietly sat there on the bed and prayed out loud for God to help Cody take that medicine; its seemed impossible for a child his age. In fact, I was told by the nurse MOST children have to have the tubes. Shawn even saw a child there around Cody’s age with the tubes and tape all around the nose as well. Just a few minutes after praying a woman came into the room, a nurse unassigned to Cody, and I asked her if she could get me some more medicine as the other nurse filled the cup 3 times fuller with water and ice which just made it more overwhelming for Cody to get down that amount. She understood completely and assured me she would help. She brought more back, but it was still disgusting to the taste. She offered to mix it with apple juice to see if that would work. The other nurse, Cody’s assigned nurse, looked a little irritated as she felt this other woman delaying the whole process. Cody’s “adopted” nurse did it anyway and brought the medicine cups back with art drawn on them by her and also the promise of receiving a prize after each round of medicine. The juice, the creative approach worked, and Cody drank his first round of medicine all down. He received 2 cars for that accomplishment. The nurse continued to bring all 12 rounds of medicine to him over the next 6 hours with other fun stickers and such and always a very appreciated prize at the end. When all his medicine was taken he was given his grand prize of a soccer ball. That was very fitting as I was sad he had to miss his soccer practice that evening to stay at the hospital (I wasn’t sure how she knew he liked soccer.) I was so grateful to her, and when we asked about her the next day, noone seemed to know who she was, so I call her our angel nurse. I was so grateful for the compassion she had for Cody. The next morning we received wonderful news. The results of the procedure showed Cody had a very large ulcer that was causing the bleeding and the severe pain. In fact, it was so large the GI specialist said it would leave an adult incapacitated. The ulcer was caused by the aspirin he has been taking due to the Kawasaki Disease back in January. We were told on more than one occasion the aspirin would not harm Cody as the dosage was not high enough and the time frame was not very long. I was so grateful for this diagnosis and simple solution as they were originally saying he may have Crohn’s Disease or a gluten allergy. And even though those things are not life-threatening it would be a life-long burden to deal with. I immediately thought of the birthday parties he could go to and have pizza and cake with the other children. It was such a relief and a huge burden lifted…..Of course, as his mom, I kept thinking of other more serious things it could be which Shawn kept telling me not to think about. I am extremely appreciative of the nurse on the phone who asked me if I would like to speak with Cody’s doctor personally (all the other nurses just chalked it up to constipation.) I was grateful Cody’s doctor pulled some strings and got Cody seen immediately. And, of course, I am grateful for the nurse who came along and cheered Cody on during the whole ordeal with the medicine. I have seen God answer so many prayers over the last few days; I am overflowing with blessings. Cody brought his whole loot he received at the hospital and his balloons and doggy Grandma and Grandpa sent down to breakfast this morning. He is so pleased with all of his special prizes he received for being sick and being so brave through it. He carries it all with him everywhere! The picture I took is missing at least 20 medicine cups that got thrown out at the hospital, so just imagine the amount Cody had to take! Cody is already seeming to feel much better today as he is on medicine to help him mend. This has been a long process. I am so thankful Cody will not have to be in pain anymore. For Cody’s first day back home I decided to have Anna and him make some bug cupcakes as a special treat. Cody has had his eye on these little guys in my cookbook for quite awhile now. I don’t think there could be a better day to bake them!