The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Tim at Mercy Folsom Hospital

Poor Tim had been complaining about calf pains about a month ago. He had an ultra sound and they found nothing (he thought he had a blood clot). Well he started having shortness of breath, and was coughing up blood. We checked Web Md, and it said it could possibly be a blood clot in the lungs. So, we called his mom whose an advice nurse. She said nothing was wrong, and then Tim told her she'd be sorry if he was dead the next morning. He is a bit of a complainer when it comes to pain so I didn't take him seriously until he coughed up blood. However, he wanted to go play basketball. So I tried to figure out how much pain he was in, and told him that if he was really sick not to go play basketball but go get checked out. He went play basketball got home and was in major pain. I was fast asleep. I guess during the night I told him to stop moving around when he was in extreme pain, and trying to get comfortable. 

Next thing I know he's telling me he's going to the ER at 3:30 AM. So, I tell him make sure you go to the right hospital. ER visits can be expensive, and even more so if you go to the wrong one is what I was thinking.  He's been very healthy... so we haven't used the insurance. I didn't think he was really in much pain. I went right back to sleep. He calls me at 7 AM and says, "Nicole I am really sick." Then he says he's going to throw up so he's got to go. Hmm Now I'm curious what should I do. I take Adeline to Beth's and go to the hospital. I hadn't called anyone because I didn't want Tim to be embarrassed when the Dr.'s said nothing was wrong. His sister called, and so I let her in on everything (she's a nurse). She didn't actually think Tim had anything wrong with him either she said oh he has some mystery pain.

Then the Dr. comes in and says okay we figured out what is causing you so much pain... you have three small blood clots in your lungs, and we found on the EKG you have a heart problem as well called WPW. Now I am bit shocked to say the least. To sum everything up Tim was in the hospital for 5 days. He is no longer going to be able to play basketball or other contact sports. He also can't have any caffeine. However, he's alive which we are grateful for. We all felt pretty bad for not believed him, and I am so glad he knew his body and got checked out. We still have lots to figure out, but he's home and doing well. The worst part right now is he's had this horrible allergic reaction and has an itchy rash all over. He takes Bennadryl for it and it nocks him out. We are so glad he's home now. I promise I will take him more seriously even is he is a complainer.

Addie laughing at her daddy