The evening began at the pediatrician’s office. With the exception of Will’s 102º temperature, everything else about him looked good — his lungs, throat and ears were clear, and he remained alert throughout the visit. The doctor guessed he had a virus that could be treated with Tylenol, but the high fever coupled with Will’s age required a protocol hospital visit to rule out any bacterial infection.
The pediatric waiting room is not the happiest place. Kids are slumped in their mother’s laps or curled up on vinyl chairs while their parents wait. The Cartoon Network and a small shelf of children’s books serve as distractions. Of course, when your baby is 3 months old, there’s little to do but wonder what’s taking so long.
We sat for an hour before a nurse checked Will’s vitals. She asked if we’d noticed the swelling in his fontanel. The fonta-what? The name sounded like a 50s Do-Wop band. She explained that the fontanel was the soft spot on the baby’s head.
Our concerns grew when we met with the pediatric resident. We knew that Will would need blood work, but added to that list were x-rays, the insertion of an IV, catheter and the shock of the evening —a possible spinal tap to rule out meningitis.
All I wanted was to treat Will’s fever. It seemed to me that his comfort should be the priority. Then we’d manage one test at a time.
During the IV insertion, I let Will’s tiny hand grasp my thumb and looked into his eyes, assuring him that we would be home soon. The experience was similar to having contractions — get through one bad spell, rest a bit and then prepare for the next. Once the nurses finished, Ted and I hovered over our baby in silent disbelief, lost in thought.
The tests came back negative. The news left us relieved, however, all bacterial infections had to be ruled out. The doctor recommended a spinal tap to do so. We could bypass this final test, but the risks of infection outweighed any risks involved with the tap. The situation felt like a catch 22. What if Will had meningitis and didn’t get the tap? What if he gets the tap and suffers from complications? I went with my instincts and signed the waiver.
The doctor encouraged us to wait outside during the procedure. I hated not being with Will. At least during the IV experience I could comfort him. Now all I could do was sit and wonder if I’d made the right decision.
The procedure was quick and the results even better. Will was free from infection. After eight hours of tests, the discharge papers recommended treating his fever with Tylenol. Nothing could have made me happier. We were going home with our baby, who would soon be sleeping peacefully in the backseat.
Jennifer Hazard lives and writes in Yarmouth.