Sleepover at PCMC

Last Tuesday night Ryker and I had a sleepover at Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC). Here's a short version of the event...

Sunday Ryker had a fever and light rash. We just assumed he was coming down with a bug. Monday he was fine. Light rash, no fever, nothing.

Monday night was a rough one. He woke up several times saying his "tummy was grumbly". We told him that's what happens when he doesn't eat his dinner and Sean fed him some yogurt around 6:30am. By 8am he was literally writhing in pain from his stomach and repeatedly told us that he needed to go to the doctor. We assumed that he had a flu bug and just needed to poop or puke. He said it didn't feel like he had to do either, but that it hurt "so so bad all around" and that he needed to go to the doctor. His fever and rash were back and he looked awful.

At 10 we took him to his pediatrician. By this point he was in tears, couldn't sit still from the pain, and wouldn't walk because "it hurt too bad". In the short time we were at the doctor Ryker turned very lethargic, pale, and continued to complain about the pain in his stomach.

The pediatrician sent us to Primary Childrens Outpatient Services in Riverton for labs on his urine and blood. The results showed some irregularities so he sent us for an abdominal ultrasound. Ryker was really lethargic but would yelp in pain anytime the tech put pressure on his abdomen. By this point the right side of his abdomen was visibly larger than the left. Another doctor came in and found that Ryker's gall bladder, liver and a bile duct were all significantly enlarged. He called our pediatrician with the results and they sent us to Primary's for the night.

Apparently most everything was consistent with a virus, but there were enough unknown factors that they didn't feel comfortable sending us home in the condition that Ryker was in.

After 3 hours waiting in this room Ryker finally started to "perk" up, as in he played with a car and smiled for the first time that day.

Around 9:30pm they sent us up to his room for the night. Anytime a nurse or doctor would come in he would ask if he could have a cookie and a drink, but he was on a nothing by mouth (NPO) order until they determined that he didn't have to have surgery or more imaging.

Around 11pm the GI specialist finally came with some results of the most recent tests and gave the "ok" for Ryker to eat a small snack and drink something.  (He hadn't had anything since the yogurt at 6:30am). The difference was amazing. Within minutes of half a banana, 1 cookie, and some gatorade (or "gatorader" as he calls it) he was on a bit of a sugar high.

The highlight of the day was when he suddenly broke out in song and dance. After his snack and drink he suddenly sat up, started moving his arms singing "I like to move it, move it...I like to move it, move it..." (from Madagascar 2). It was hilarious. I tried to upload the video but it was taking way too long.

They got his IV hooked up and off to sleep we went. He had a pretty good night. He woke up throughout the night from pain and thirst but overall did great. The next morning he was very hungry but had been put back on an NPO at 6am. I came in with my breakfast and he started crying, "But I'm hungry too Mommy!". It was so sad. I didn't want to make him suffer but I was starving so I left the room to snarf down breakfast.

While I was out I found a life-size Spider Man. I knew Ryker would love it so we went for a walk around the hospital to distract him from being so hungry and thirsty.

When we came back the Child Life Specialist met with Ryker and brought him toys and books to pass the time.

They still didn't know what was wrong, but he was doing MUCH much better so we got discharged around 3pm. By the next day he was his same old self. After all the results came back, they came to the conclusion that it was just a funky virus.

He has to have follow-up labs done in 2 weeks and an ultrasound in 6 weeks to make sure all of his organs have gone back to their normal size, but other than that it's as if it never happened.

As we left Ryker asked if we could stop to take some pictures with Spider Man while making his "mean face".

Ok, so maybe that wasn't the short version!

Thanks so much to friends and family for all your thoughts and prayers.