I wrote this post on my private blog more than 4 years ago:
Saturday morning Huddy woke up and ate like normal, and then spit up his formula. He did it again at a later feeding which was unusual for him. He had been going through a wonder week so we were used to him being a little more fussy than normal (he rarely ever cries), but him spitting up got me worried so I called the doctor. She said to give him some pedialite and formula and if he kept it down he was just fine, he probably just had an upset stomach. So he kept down the pedialite and the formula and ate at his other feedings like normal, although a little less than he normally does which I just chalked up to an upset tummy because he was still giving us his sweet smiles and cooing at us like his normal, bubbly self. Then Saturday night he woke up grunting and crying more often than usual, but I would rock him and he’d go back to sleep. Sunday morning when we got up he was a little pale which got me concerned again. We fed him and he ate but then he started making these gagging noises after he’d eat and I started to worry more. I called my mom to come over and as soon as she showed up she agreed he looked pale and I called the doctor again. His breathing then started looking erratic while I was on the phone with her. She told us to get him in, so mom and I rushed to the nearest Childrens Healthcare Urgent Care center and they got us back fast. I have a tendency to overreact, especially when it comes to Hudson. I mean, he sneezes and I’m worried he has swine flu. So I figured we’d go to Urgent Care, they’d tell me he had a little bug, and send us home with antibiotics. That was not the case.
Huddy at 2 months in the CICU
We got to Urgent Care and they got him back pretty fast. By this point he was running a fever and his breathing seemed more erratic. It all became scary when the nurse took his heart rate and rushed us back to a room and called for an ambulance transfer. Three other nurses and doctors rushed into the room and I knew something was wrong. His heart rate was over 200 and kept climbing. They tried to shock it back to normal by placing an ice bag on his face, which looked like torture to me, but it didn’t work and his heart rate kept climbing. It got up to 340 so they tried the ice again and but it still didn’t work. So they had to shock him. Twice. I saw my precious baby shocked. And then pricked so many times I lost count as they rushed to get an IV in him. That wasn’t working so they tried to stick one in his shin bone. I can’t describe the terror of watching our baby go through this much pain, and there was nothing I could do. Absolutely nothing. I prayed, my mom prayed, and by then Jason had arrived and he was praying too. Then the EMTs showed up and took over. They finally got an IV in him and his heart rate started going down. They were so calm and treated Hudson with such care and respect. I will forever be grateful for those 4 wonderful EMTs (more like guardian angels) who saved my son’s life.
Hudson went into what’s called SVT or Supraventricular Tachycardia which in layman’s terms is a very fast heart rate. Right now your heart is probably beating between 110-120 BPM- Huddy’s little heart went up to 340 BPM! All day yesterday I was so sure that this was my fault; that I missed a vital sign that there was something seriously wrong with my child. It turns out, in an infant it’s very hard to diagnose. I’ve been told by every doctor that there was absolutely no way we could’ve known what was wrong with him. They’ve also told me time and time again that we are so lucky we got him in when we did. I am so thankful that God guided me in this; that he guided my mom to come over and confirm my worries, and that He told me to trust my instincts and call the doctor. I’m also so thankful for all of the friends and family that have wrapped Hudson in prayer. If we had waited any longer to get him in and if he wasn’t such a strong and healthy little boy, this story would have had a completely different outcome. Best case scenario: a permanent heart arrhythmia and/or permanent heart damage. And you know what the worst case scenario would be. However, as of right now, it looks like he will heal and will go back to being the healthy and happy baby that has so completely stolen my heart.
To all those in the medical field, especially those who worked on Hudson: you do a good and beautiful thing each and every day. You save lives. Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you for sharing. How scary. So happy he’s on
My heart goes out to you. When something happens with one of our children it kind of brakes us. My son stopped breathing many times from 12 hrs on, it was terrifying. Thank God both our sons are healthy now!
Heart mom here. So relieving to read the story of another mom with a heart baby. Praying for your family and your baby. Thank you for sharing! @benreeceapparel
That had to have been terrifying. I can’t even imagine. My children have never been through anything like this. The only scares I’ve had have been high temperatures and that time my toddler swallowed a button battery, which turned out fine. I’m so glad you can take him home and snuggle him. My heart hurts for what you had to witness.
Thank you for sharing your story. My son’s heart stopped beating a few minutes after I gave birth and he was rushed to the NICU. It tore me up, but luckily everything worked out fine. Five years later he’s a very active little boy!
It must have been so difficult to recall the memory of such a terrifying experience. Thank you for gathering the strength to write about your experience so that heart-moms like me can feel a sense of community. There’s so much hope that stems out of reading real-life stories about the healing that comes from pain.
Wow! What a scary time for you and your family. Seeing your baby shocked, not once, but twice has to be horrifying. I’m so glad to read that he is doing so much better now. Hugs and thank you for your transparency so other moms will know what to look out for.
Thanks for sharing your story, it must have been such a scary moment for you.
This must have been such a traumatic time for you and your family, but you are very brave for sharing it with the intent of helping anyone else who goes through this. I am pleased to hear that your adorable little one hasn’t had any further complications x
Oh my, I can’t imagine how scary this must’ve been for you. Thank you for sharing your story. I am sure it will help many of people.
Wow this must have been so hard for you and your family. I’m glad you stayed strong and that you had a prayer support system. It always helps.
How scary! I cannot even imagine how you felt seeing your precious baby so sick. I hope he will be better and that the doctors will find the reason why his heart rate went up that high. Prayers and hugs for you and your family.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experiences with us in honor of this month. I am sure getting through this has not only made you stronger but full of courage.