I Hand These Problems to You Lord

As I stood watching for the buses to come in thinking I could use some extra hours of sleep, then pasting on a cheery smile to greet the sleepy students as they pour in, I heard a page on the phone to a coworkers room. Never in a million years did I think it was going to be a call for me, but it was.

"I can't get Bradley to wake up."

My heart stopped, before panic and fear could truly take hold, God intervened and I was able to speak, "What do you mean?"

"He got real quiet on the way to daycare. I thought he just nodded off for a nap, but when I picked him up to carry him in to daycare, he didn't even try to wake up. Ms. Connie and I keep trying to get him up, but he just falls back into a hard sleep. When we do get him to respond or to sit up, he'll walk over to his spot on the rug, but then lay down and fall back to sleep."

"Call the nurse, NOW"

As I stood there, pasting on the smile, forgetting how tired I was from only 2 hours sleep, panicking because I didn't know what was happening with my baby, I started to rationalize things. On the radio that morning they had been talking about how this day after time change was the hardest and that elementary children really have the most difficult time with the adjustment.

"That has to be it, but no it doesn't make any sense. Bradley got more sleep last night than he's gotten in a long time. Besides even when he's super tired and falls asleep in the car, he still stirs enough to find out where he is." This kept running through my mind. "Something doesn't seem right."

I called Mark back.

"She said to call the ambulance or get him to the ER, but he's up playing around now. What do you want to do?"

"Get him to the ER. Take him to Lexington, I'm on my way."

I quickly got a teacher to cover for my last bus, got down the hall found the administrators, told them what was wrong, grabbed my purse, and was out the door. As I turned down the road it hit me...we should go to Richland Memorial....his pediatrician office is associated with them, he's been admitted there before.

So I'm back on the phone telling Mark where to go instead. I hear Bradley in the background crying because he wants to stay at school.

We spend about 4 hours at the Er and by the time we left we had no answers.

After sending out a prayer request, I received an email from a God send. You see in the ER
Mark was asked if Bradley had any seizure type activity prior to the slumber he fell into. Of course Mark responded no. After all when one hears the word seizure you think convulsions, tremors, shaking, etc.

The email I received reminded me there are many other kinds of seizures. Not that I wish my child any more problems, but we need answers so we can help him. So the quick acting momma I sometimes am, started searching for information on seizures.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I have forgotten? After all I'm reminded daily when following those annoying buses that have those flickering lights and monthly during routine fire drills. In undergrad school we learned about seizures where the person can seem as if they are daydreaming. And everytime I'm behind those buses that make my head swim or go through a fire drill and can't escape the flashing light fast enough, I think....what about people with seizures wouldn't this be a problem?

Later that night Mark added one more detail...they had just passed the fire station when Bradley had gotten quiet.....and the lights were going.

A few days later on the way to the follow up with Bradley's pediatrician, he scared me. We had just started going again after being stopped at a red light, when I noticed a subtle change in Bradley face. He appeared completely zoned out, of course having read as much as I had recently and not knowing what is going on with my baby, I called his name, soon I was yelling his name. Trying desperately to focus on the road ahead. Fighting to keep my eyes from staying glued to the review mirror. Thankfully we came to another red light. I turned around, tried yelling again. No response. Then he starts moving his lips as if talking.....but no sound coming out.

Coming to the end of Leaphart we were once again stopped at the red light before turning on to 378. A slight change in Bradley occurred again so I called his name once more. The response I got this time was a smile, frown, smile, frown...repeatedly, then just nothingness.
I couldn't get to the doctor's office fast enough.

I explained all that had occurred as well as our wondering if we had missed more of these episodes because we quickly passed them off as him being engrossed in Little Bear, Wonder Pets, playing, etc. I had really been thinking I was going to have my hands full since he was only 3 and able to completely ignore with no response whatsoever our attempts to get his attention...including waving our hands in front of his face, moving his arms, etc. Or passing things off because he takes so much medication. Had I been ignoring a problem all these months?
Fortunately our doctor knows that Bradley gets infections without exposure and when something happens with him, it usually happens fast and with little warning. She did blood work, urine sample, and scheduled an EEG and an MRI.

As we anxiously await these appointments, we pray:

God please be with and guide the nurses, doctors, specialists, and whoever else is involved. I pray you will show them what is troubling David Bradley's 3 year old body. Because no matter what they find, I know you will help us get through this. And be with Bradley, Lord. Provide him with the courage and strength he needs. You know all our hearts and minds. I know you know his and I pray you meet the needs he has inside that I am unaware of. I place him in Your hands. I turn over these new problems to you just as I have done with his skin and allergies. I trust in your O Lord and it is in your name I pray. Amen.