The C Word

After a pretty nasty fever (103ish for over 48 hours), the parents decided to take Pompom to Urgent Care and get her checked out. No big deal (minus a little mom guilt), but she was diagnosed with a UTI and received a prescription for some strawberry antibiotics (naturally flavored, I'm sure). Two days later, she had another fever and was pretty lethargic, so the decision was made to take her to Rady's Children's Hospital for some blood work. At this point, mom hasn't slept for a week or so, thanks to these persistently high fevers.

The doctor's in the ER decided to run a few tests and jumped on giving her some IV fluids and enough antibiotics to wipe out a small village of germs. Not that this all wasn't bad enough, but they subjected mom to watching American Idol.

As the labs started to trickle in, the resident physician came in to tell us the results. He said Pompom's labs were pretty abnormal in Neutrophils (surprisingly low), high in Lymphocytes, and a low WBC which is extremely rare in the case of a simple bacterial UTI being treated with an antibiotic.

A little lesson: Neutrophils are one of the first white blood cells to respond to invaders.   

Super Nice Passive Resident: Are there any more questions you have?

Mom: Yes. So if it's not a UTI causing this, then what?

SNPR: Uh, so, sometimes babies present low Neurtophils when their bodies simply have a hard time fighting off a virus (which is totally normal), but not typically with a bacterial infection (when they should be high), so that has us concerned. She could have a virus too if she's really unlucky, although she's not having other symptoms like a cough or runny nose. 

Mom: Ok, but what if it's not a virus?

SNPR: (Insert dodgy eyes) Well, we'll have to reevaluate but the next step may be a bone marrow biopsy after a few more blood tests, it could be Neutropenia, which can be indicative of certain diseases. 

Mom: FUCK. (Sorry great-grandma, but just tying to give everyone the full picture.)

SNPR: Uh, sorry, did I just say too much? 

Mom: No. I asked. 

SNPR: Ok, gotta go!!! (Not really, but mom sort of had tunnel vision after "bone marrow biopsy.") 

Turns out, mom is no medical genius, but she knows her stuff about cancer oddly (thank you, Facebook). And then she remembered!!! THE STICKERS (see here)! They surely caused this cancer! (Ok, don't judge her stupidity...she wasn't of sound mind.)

As mom's stomach started churning, the attending physician came in to follow-up on how things were going.

Super Attractive Attending: "Hi. So her blood work came back really abnormal for a UTI and that's pretty concerning. At best it could be a co-occurring virus, or at worst, the C word/Leukemia (insert fake sad face). It's pretty rare, but I have to mention all possibilities."

Mom: "I'm going to vomit."

SAA: "Can I get you a trash can or Gatorade?" 

Mom: "Uh, no."

SAA: "Ok, hang in there."

By this point, mom could barely see, speak, hear or breathe. The alarm starting going off on the IV and mom didn't realize this until the nurse came in and shut it off. Of course, in her mind (the ever positive thinker she is), she assumed the worst.

She started shaking uncontrollably (like, couldn't hold the phone to call Apu). But no tears...just shock and fear (thank you, Google).

Pretty funny how one THOUGHT can flood your body. Cortisol and Adrenaline  are pretty powerful chemicals apparently. Between her heart racing, stomach flipping and head spinning, she knows all of her stress faculties are working properly...or she was just hit by a bus. 

BUT, there was a saving grace in all of this. Mom secretly took a picture of Pompom's labs while the SNPR left the room for a phone call. She sent them to Apu who then called our pediatrician in Hungary (thank you, time difference). 

Then this text came: 

Long story, really, really short...

Our pediatrician in Hungary said she had a virus and a UTI, and to go home...or more accurately, "GET HER OUT OF THERE N.O.W!!!" He was almost angry that they were even considering admission. After mom talked extensively to the new attending physician (a really cool, GENUINE lady who treated mom like a real person), she decided to not sign Pompom out and potentially get reported to CPS. 

At 3am, they moved them to a fancy room (read: expensive), to stay the night. 

No sleep (which makes mom delusional on occasion), and a phone call from great-grandma gave mom the confidence that it was time to leave.

And then it happened! Mom noticed a rash on Pompom's back!!!!! It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen...and she's seen some pretty beautiful stuff. 

Namely...

Thanks to me (Popcorn) the parents had already experience Roseola, also known as a "Three Day Fever." Three days of a SUPER high fever, followed by a totally normal day or two, and then a full body rash. She immediately called the nurse and reported her assessment. 

Mystery solved. Pompom is REALLY unlucky, and her parents aren't that dumb after all. Two doctors also asked mom if she had a medical background. Nope, just the motivation to be informed and completely neurotic.

Oh, and then mom remembered it was her 32nd Birthday (thank you again, Facebook). 

Shout out to some of mom's friends (from all over the world), who were supportive (despite her tendencies to be a hypochondriac).

Mom's insightful conclusion...

Holy crap, that was scary and horrible and she hopes she never ever has to feel that scared ever again, AND...

Having babies is the absolute BEST and WORST thing that can happen to a human being. Mom has a few (hundred) new grey hairs and a whole new appreciation for health to welcome her 32nd year of life.

Seriously, she can't even imagine what it must be like to actually hear that your child has cancer. Just complete and utter devastation. She experienced the feeling for almost two hours and it almost killed her. Literally. And that was just knowing it was a possibility!  

A lesson to all of us, but mainly mom...don't stress the small BS stuff you think is important...like not so broken cars (another story), pasteurized vs. unpasteurized milk (yes, that was actually a thing), or who's fighting over the newest stuffed animal. Turns out, nothing is as important as your health and your babies. 

And now, Miss Pompom is on the mend from her UTI and Roseola...and mom will sleep for the next two weeks. Oh wait...

So in hindsight, the only real emergency was that we were out of coffee.

But we do have to follow up with a blood test when we go back home to Budapest. 

***Also, stay tuned...as mom will publish how much this little hiccup will cost us in medical fees...$10k? $15k? She's thinking about starting a pool...