Life Flight Take Two

Charles, I have decided thinks that if he has to go to the hospital, he is going to make a statement. And that he did. 

On Tuesday October 14, 2014 he decided to go very big. All day Tuesday was a bit of a struggle for Charles. He was having a hard time staying awake and being roused. He was also having a hard time breathing. Well, he is on a vent. So you would think he would be able to breath just fine. Think again. I was with my mother in law, Karen, and we did an emergency trach change to see if that would help keep his oxygen sats up. Yup, nope. He threw up (which he never does!) and so we proceeded to call 9-1-1. They got there very fast... Let me tell you they know who he is by now... 

  So, the EMT's walk in and want to know what to do. Let me just explain. Almost all of them look too young to drive, and they all look completely on edge. When they arrive on scene they always ask me what to do. When I want to just break down and let them take over I can't. I have to be the strong one. Lame. Sometimes I want to be the one to be so worried and not know what to do. Ha ya right. I will always be the one they depend on when they get there. Good thing I know Charles so well! 

Ok, so the trach change happened. Charles vomited and the EMT's showed up. I worked on switching everything over so that we could transport Charles and just as I finished everything he started to turn blue. Now explaining the look of absolute panic and despair in Charles' eyes is impossible. I started to cry and just yelled at the room in general that he was blue. One of the responders handed me an am-bu bag and I ripped his ventilator off his trach and started bagging him. he slowly started to look better and we just had to get him to the back of the ambulance to wait for our ride. 

The task of taking Charles anywhere is a chore. Let alone up the narrow stairs with me holding and bagging and other various EMT's carrying items attached to Charles. Normally I can carry Charles and everything that is attached to him. Not this time. It was an experience... But we made it. We climbed into the ambulance and waited for the helicopter to arrive. Last time he was life flighted the ambulance took us to the park down the street and had the bird land in the parking lot. Not this time. They had police officers block off access to the intersection just a little ways down the street and had them land there. Let's just say that there was quite the crowd. 

Once the helicopter landed, a crew of three came to do an evaluation of Charles before wheeling us to the waiting helicopter. The evaluation didn't take long and they quickly strapped me to the gurney and I just kept bagging. The look of relief on Charles' face was amazing. He was so happy to be in my arms and to be able to breath. I was so afraid to let them take him from my arms and put him into the helicopter. After they took Charles, I went around to the other side and was strapped in. I felt helpless. I wanted to do something, but I couldn't do anything but watch the Life Flight crew do their job. 

As a side note, all Life Flight crews are Respiratory Therapists. At least from what I have seen. So they are very qualified to take care of Charles. The feeling of being separated, even by a few feet at a time that he needed me almost killed me. By the time we got to the hospital he was doing amazing. 

Strapped in and waiting anxiously to take off

Just before take off I believe. At this point Charles was relatively stable, but not stable enough to go by ambulance. 

Preparing to do blood work. Not looking forward to this particular bill...

Labs are being drawn and the lady (no idea what her name is...) is breathing for him. 

One of my heros! I doubt that she knows she is my hero, but I love her for taking such good care of Charles and helping him breathe. 

Yet another hero. Here he is getting blood work results. A crazy expensive thing to do in the air... But I am so grateful for him and what he has chosen to do with his life!

Get ready to cry. We flew past the Bountiful LDS Temple and it was gorgeous. Charles was an angel the whole way to the hospital and as we flew by the temple he seemed to want to look at it as long as possible. This picture just melts my heart and makes me cry. Families are eternal. 

This picture strikes me even harder than it probably normally would under these circumstances. Charles had been blue. He had been dying in my arms. If I hadn't done what I did and taken him off of the vent and started bagging him, we would have lost him. Absolutely terrifying. I am so grateful that this particular angel is mine for eternity!

This series of pictures does not do this scene justice. The number of people waiting for us as we landed was crazy. 

The side of the helicopter opens and I hear a chorus of "Awwww" from these ladies. And then what happens? Charles smiles... One of his great big hello ladies grin. Little stinker.... Such a ladies man.

I will say it is hard to be annoyed, everyone thinks he is so cute. And well, let's face it. He is adorable. 

Remember when I said earlier that I usually move him all on my own? Well let's play a game. It is called "How many medical personnel does it take to move an almost 5 month old?" The answer....Eight! There are eight of them to do what I do by myself.... Hmmm... Can I just take the tests and not go to school for my degree?

Loving me some proof to show Charles when he gets older... He knows how to make a scene. Whether he is making an entrance or an exit, this kid has all eyes on him...

During this entire process of moving Charles off the helicopter and into the hospital, I hear lots of things that are just encouraging Charles to want to keep coming back. The women thought he was just so cute and kept commenting on how he would smile. 

Why yes, Charles missed the ladies! He thoroughly enjoyed himself all the way to the ER. He had what he wanted. Cute nurses oohing and awing over him. 

So grateful for so many people who do this for a living. I am sure there are a lot of cases with very sad outcomes.  

Finally moving! This was no small task getting Charles where he needed to be. Yet this team did a great job getting him inside!

One last look at the helicopter that brought out a whole neighborhood and Charles to Primary's. I now know the difference between the two landing pads... Wow how I wish I could say that I didn't. This particular helipad is for the more critical patients. The other side is for stable patients. Unfortunately, we have been on both helipads. 

Charles just hanging out in the ER after making such a huge scene. He looks exhausted, but he looks so much better than he did before this. 

Why yes that is the cutest little arm you ever did see! He struck a pose as we took a picture to celebrate a happyish ending to what could have been a very disastrous and devastating night. We are just so happy to have Charles with us still. We hope to never have a repeat of this, but we know our scary close calls are far from over. This may be his second life flight, but it certainly won't be his last. 

Charlyse Wilson