Cooper had another peanut episode at church on Sunday. It all started around 3:30pm when the Primary President came in the chapel, where Jeff and I were for our class and motioned (frantically) for me to come with her. I got up and Jeff followed. I saw Cooper in the back of the chapel. He wasn't facing me, I scanned him over, seeing if he had wet his pants or something. Nope. No signs of that. The Primary President told me that Cooper was given a cookie with peanuts in it. Are you sure? I questioned. Yes, she was sure. Was it a store bought cookie with a warning label on it saying it may contain nuts? No, she said, it was a peanut butter cookie. OH CRAP, I thought. Not this. Please not this. My heart sank, knowing what was in store for Cooper in the near future. Knowing it was critical to act fast, so this did not turn fatal.
At this point I went back to get my bag with Cooper's epi-pen and Benadryl in it and Jeff took Cooper out in the foyer. Cooper began to cry. He said he was sorry and that he tried to ask before he ate the cookie if it had peanuts in it, but that he couldn't. (I'm thinking all the other 5 year olds in his class were just so excited about getting cookies, that he couldn't get a word in.) He then said he asked if it did have peanuts in it as soon as he ate it. Then he said the teacher said it did have peanuts and he told her he was allergic, so that's when he was taken to the Primary President and Cooper was brought to us.
***At some point, I was told that Cooper had a sub that day. His normal
teacher, who knows about his allergy, was not there. So the person who
gave him the cookie had no idea about his allergy. Her intentions were
good.
Cooper kept saying to us over and over that he was sorry and that he didn't want a shot. My heart sank again. My poor little guy. I told him the hard, cold truth. Cooper, I said, if we don't give you the epi-pen, you could get really sick, stop breathing, and die. Maybe I shouldn't have told him the last part, it was probably a bit much for my little dude to comprehend. I was trying to hold back the tears as I held him. I really just wanted him to know that having to have a shot was nothing compared to the consequences of not giving him his epi-pen.
First we gave him a liberal dose of Benadryl. After that, I gave Jeff the epi-pen. He started to take the cap off and Cooper plead with us to not give him the shot. Cooper began to fight Jeff. I quickly knelt down next to Cooper and Jeff, who were sitting on the couch, and held down Cooper's arms and upper part of his body. Jeff held down his legs with one arm and gave him the epi-pen with the other. Cooper let out the loudest blood curdling scream, one that I don't think either Jeff or I will forget for a very long time. I have to admit, I shed a few tears for my little Cooper.
Right after giving him the epi-pen, someone offered to call 911 for us. Probably five minutes later, the fire department showed up, followed close behind by the ambulance. Cooper's tongue had begun to swell a bit, but no other body part looked swollen. His complexion was normal, he didn't have any hives or redness. The emergency personnel commended us on acting quickly, doing what we had to keep our little man alive. It wasn't said, but I know, and I'm sure they all knew too, that if Cooper wasn't given the epi-pen as quickly as he was, his current condition would have been much worse.
Cooper was then loaded up on the stretcher and taken out to the ambulance. Jeff got in the ambulance with Cooper and I went to get Mason and Shiloh from their classes. During a quiet moment when the fire fighters were checking Cooper over, I had called my sister Julia to see if I could bring Mason and Shiloh over, so I could meet Jeff at the hospital. While Mason, Shiloh, and I were walking out of the building, I tried to explain to Mason what had happened, while assuring him that Cooper would be OK, but that he was still going to the hospital to make sure he stayed that way. All Mason wanted was to go home first to change out of his church clothes. My first reaction was NO! I need to be at the hospital. Then I reminded myself that Mason and Shiloh still needed me. Cooper would be OK without me for a few extra minutes, he did have his dad after all. So I agreed to go home first so Mason could change.
In all the craziness, somehow I locked my keys in the van while at home. So I called Julia, and she quickly came to my rescue. Picked us up. Took us to the hospital to get Jeff's keys. Then back to our house to drop me off. Then back to her house with my two to eat dinner.
Once I got to the hospital (at about 5pm) Cooper's complexion was pretty red and his body was feverish hot. He was starting to really feel the effects of the Benadryl we had given him, and also the Benadryl that was given to him through the IV. Our little man slept for about 2 1/2 hours in the ER. Once he came too and we could tell he was starting to feel better, I asked him if the cookie tasted good even though it did this to him. He said it tasted really good.
Cooper was finally released around 8:30pm, feeling mostly back to himself. Before being released, all of the hospital staff who dealt with Cooper, commended us on acting quickly and being able to give Cooper his epi-pen as soon as we did. This would not have been the case if it had not been for everyone treating the situation with the seriousness it deserved.
There are so many things I am grateful for with regards to this whole ordeal:
*Cooper is ALIVE!
*Cooper having the thought to ask about the cookie.
*The sub in Cooper's class acted quickly once he told her he was allergic.
*The Primary President and Presidency who acted quickly and helped us until Cooper was loaded up on the ambulance.
*I had the epi-pen with me. (There have been times I have forgotten it at home)
*Jeff's ability to think clear, act quick, and stay calm in emergency situations. (I'm not as good at this one.)
*Jeff being the "bad guy" by giving the epi-pen, so I didn't have to be.
*The firefighters, AMR, and hospital staff who took such good care of Cooper.
*Everyone at church who offered to take Mason and Shiloh for me, or asked if there was anything else they could do for me.
*Julia and Bill for taking Mason and Shiloh for us without hessitation.
*Everyone who called in the days after to check on Cooper.
*All the prayers said for Cooper.
*Again, COOPER IS ALIVE. That is all that really matters, right? Right.
