Getting THAT phonecall...

It is every mother's worst nightmare to get a phonecall about your child in distress and you are not there to help them. Last night, it happened to me. First let me start by saying, in the end, all was okay. Anyway, I was at my weekly bible study when I heard my voicemail ding on my cell. We must've been talking too loud and I didn't hear the phone ring. I immediately thought it was John asking about Addie (we were trying a new bedtime routine as I am weaning her from nursing). I checked the voicemail and this was John on the other line, "CALL ME NOW! I NEED TO TAKE JACKSON TO THE HOSPITAL!"...click...

uh...yeah, it was THAT phonecall.

I frantically called him back to see what in the world could have happened. When he answered all I could hear was Jackson screaming in the background yelling, "Daddy, help me!" As the horrible thoughts went running through my head, John explained that Jackson had swallowed a Skittle wrapper (the "Fun Size" from Trick or Treating) and he was having a hard time breathing. Zoe and Jackson were playing downstairs while John was upstairs giving Addie a bath so he wasn't sure of what exactly happened. All he saw was one side of the wrapper on the floor and Jackson screaming that he couldn't breath. While John was explaining what happened, Jackson was still screaming in the background, this time saying, "Please God, don't let me die! Save me!"

I told John to call 911, because I was 25 minutes away and he needed help now! So we hung up and he called 911. Needless to say, driving up to my house with the flashing lights of a firetruck and ambulance is NOT fun. (by the way, it only took me 15 minutes to get home - shh!)

I ran in and there were 4 ENT guys there with Jackson and he was okay. As soon as he saw me, he started crying and melted into my arms. He asked me, "Is it okay if I cry now?" (I guess John had been telling him to stay calm, for fear of the wrapper blocking his air passage, and to be brave.) I assured him he could cry now and he just let it out. I don't think I let go of him for a good 20 minutes. The ENT guys had checked his airways and windpipe and everything sounded fine. The wrapper must've stratched his throat and that's why he kept saying "It's right there, I can feel it in my throat." In the end, they said it would pass through his system. With our extreme thanks, they all left and Jackson got a bowl of Sherbet to help his throat and then off to bed. He wanted me to sit with him until he fell asleep so I did. As I sat there with watching him sleep, I thanked God for keeping him safe and showing me in just another way how much my children mean to me. I truly couldn't imagine my life without each one of them.