The Allergenby Ray Shay

My father frequently told my six siblings and I, "There is nothing you can tell me that would ever surprise me."  Since our dad had a great deal of experiences including living in a boarding school, raising seven kids and was a highly decorated war veteran, I believed him.

The last few years after happily passing the half century mark myself, I mistakenly put myself in his league. I should have known better.  I mistakenly thought after being a street cop for about twenty-five years and in the process of raising three young boys, I had pretty much seen it all.  It just goes to show you that when you think you know it all, life can slap you right across the face.

Boudine Bakery Employees and lots of Sourdough Bread!

It is a shame my rude awakening occurred last Friday morning, on Valentine's Day.  I had just parked our company car in front of our Community Hub In 4S Ranch.  The Prius was loaded down with about 150 loaves of freshly baked, heart shaped, Boudin Bread. I was excited about our annual tradition of passing out bread to our amazing clients.   

I took the photograph to the right about ten minutes before my phone started ringing.  Phone calls I was too busy to answer.  Looking back, the key should have been been the multiple calls from different numbers at 9:00 AM in the morning.   I did not recognize any of them.  Then I received an emergency text from a good friend of ours at Del Norte High School that simply read, "CALL ME ASAP. Ref TROY."

 

I had only dropped Troy off at school an hour earlier. I think parents' hearts stop for a moment when you get an urgent text about your child. When our friend answered the phone I did not even say, "hello" I just said, "what happened to Troy?"  That is when she told me, "Troy is having some type of allergic reaction and paramedics are loading him up now. How far away are you?"

I was only a few minutes away from Del Norte High School, but I told them not to wait.  We would meet Troy and the paramedics at the hospital.   We had no idea what caused Troy's allergic reaction.   I knew that anaphylactic shock is serious business and a person's reaction to an allergen can move quickly and the swelling can cause suffocation.

I knew Troy would be scared, but I also trusted Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department Paramedics and wanted Troy in the hospital now.  I suspect they would have never waited for me anyway.  I soon learned why parents with children who are sensitive to certain allergens like peanut butter and bee venom have sleepless nights worrying about the safety of their children.

As Theresa and I raced to meet the ambulance at Pomerado Hospital, time seemed to slow down. When we walked quickly past the reception area and into the emergency room, I was to say the least, surprised. Troy looked like he had just done about fifteen rounds of a professional boxing match.

Wikipedia example of Analphylactic Shock

Avoiding the graphic details, let me assure the effects of a person's body reacting to an allergen can be fast and significant. Troy had already received  two Intravenous doses of ephonefferen, intravenous

steroids, Benadryl and was on his second breathing treatment to improve his ability to breath.  

I tried to fill him (and us) with confidence by assuring him that even though he could not see his mom and dad, the severe swelling was stopping and it was important for him to try and relax.  In the far recessed corner of my brain, a little whisper was coming up through my cortex saying, "holy sh%! what the heck happened."

I then turned to the person directing the emergency treatment wearing the white coat and asked if she was the doctor.  She replied that she was the Physician Assistant and she works in tandem with the doctor who was helping several other patients.  I love PA's, I really do.  But when their working on your child and things do not seem to be getting any better, I want the extra schooling and hopefully some gray hair of a licensed doctor.

I can't say I fired her, but she left and the doctor came in almost immediately.  After reviewing the steps already taken he said he was perplexed that despite all the medications they had given Troy, his breathing was still "diminished."  I hated that word the moment it left the doctor's mouth.  

Then came the X-Rays, more tests and more treatments trying to solve the puzzle.  I don't know if it was his gray hair, his doctor degree or my little lie saying he was our only son, but within a few minutes he said he had activated Children's Hospital Emergency Transport Team to transfer Troy to Children's Hospital.  

Epi pen

Theresa rode with Troy in the ambulance and we spent about the next seventy-two hours in Children's hospital where he received exceptional care that ultimately reduced the swelling which finally allowed us to take him home on Sunday afternoon.    

I can tell you that Theresa and I are very thankful to Julie Leighton and Mimi Pelio and all the staff at Del Norte High School for their quick actions, all the paramedics (in both ambulances) and the doctors, physician assistants and support staff who helped us bring our son safely home.

Another aspect of this experience that will always stay with me is the importance of protecting children who are susceptible to this type of illness.  When a table at school says "Peanut Free" look at the picture above and realize allergic reactions are serious business and yes even the slightest exposure can be life threatening.   

We still do not know what caused Troy to have such a significant allergic reaction.   Until we determine the source and how to manage it, we have all been issued and trained in the use of Epi pens that allow us to counter the effects of the unknown allergen, in case it returns.  

I would also like to thank our great team of employees who distributed all the fresh bread and "spread the love" as they say on Valentine's Day.  I'm sorry Theresa and I missed it.   

Enjoy your week.

 
 
 
Ray and Theresa Shay 
 
2013 - Shay Realtors - All Rights Reserved