FEBRUARY 2006
Well, as we suspected, Callum was getting tonsillitis again. Callum has been unwell for most of this month. Much of our time has been spent trying to get Callum the medical treatment he needed. We were backwards and forwards to GP appointments, both at our normal clinic, and at the hospital. No matter how hard we tried, we could not get anyone to listen to us.
The only reason Callum was discharged from being under the care of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant at the hospital last year was because we could have fast-track access back to them if needs be. We had been told to watch out for the familiar signs of this reoccurring type of tonsillitis that Callum seems to get… the advice was that we should never just accept a diagnosis of ‘a virus’, we should insist on throat swabs and if appropriate ask for re-referral to the ENT so that Callum could be given antibiotic treatment intravenously.
He was originally prescribed antibiotics by one of our GPs, and seemed to be getting better, but then he had a bad reaction to the medication and had to come off it a day early. After a couple more days, Callum seemed to be improving and although still not his usual self, we felt he was well enough to go to our friend Ryan’s birthday party (see the Photo Gallery).
Only a day later, Callum seemed to be going downhill again, we couldn’t put it into words as such, but we were noticing a change. Plus his temperature was going up again. By that evening, Callum had a temperature of over 40oC and had fallen very ill, very quickly. In fact, Callum ended up so bad that he was shouting for me to come to him despite him only standing a few inches in front of me. He then just buckled and started dropping to the floor. I managed to catch him, he seemed to have just literally dropped to sleep on his feet, but I could not wake him. Shaun was at the shop, when he returned, I had just managed to get Callum to speak to me, but each time he spoke, he drifted straight back to sleep. This was obviously very unusual and worrying. We called the hospital GPs again and they said to go straight to them. We felt sure that this time he would finally be admitted to hospital and get the treatment he needed.
We saw the GP, but by then, the cold night air had refreshed Callum a little, so I suppose to the GP he didn’t look as bad as we were saying he was. But, we know our own child. We know that no matter how poorly he is, he will still smile and try to play. So, the GP said those dreaded words; “it’s a virus”. We tried and tried to get him to listen to us and explain that the ENT said he must not be written off with such a diagnosis, but to no avail. We explained over and over again how he had just dropped to the floor after not even knowing that I was right in front of him. But no, we told to “give it a few days” and we were sent on our way.
So, a few days later, Callum was still very weak, vomiting, not eating or drinking much etc., plus he had a temperature of 40.9oC. I took him to see a GP at our own clinic, desperate to get him seen to properly.
I was told that Callum needed some different antibiotics. I explained about the throat swabs and the fast-track re-referral for treatment intravenously, but I was told that GPs couldn’t do throat swabs; they were a clinical matter for the hospital to deal with. So, I explained again about the fast-track re-referral to the ENT… but he claimed he had never heard of such a process and that we should just give Callum the antibiotics and see what happens.
I was furious and devastated. No doubt the antibiotics would work eventually, but the point was that we had been told that we should not let his illness go on for so long. I explained over and over that I was trying to follow the advice of the ENT, but the GP just said “you could see 10 GPs and get 20 different opinions – it just depends what they see on the day. Your boy, although obviously unwell, seems happy enough in himself”. Once again Callum was being penalised for being happy! I explained that GPs only see him for five minutes and that we see him all day… yet our views and information on his condition seem to be being ignored. All the time I was talking to the GP, Callum was coughing and retching. Eventually, as I was getting ready to leave, Callum started choking and then brought up a large clot of blood! Pure blood, not just a trace of it. The GP never even flinched, as I felt like the bottom had just fallen out of my heart! Obviously, I then stated that I was not happy to leave and that I wanted to have Callum seen to right now… at which point the GP explained that “during the struggle to look in Callum’s mouth… I caught, well may have caught, one of his tonsils as they are that swollen”. He went on to say that I should watch Callum’s health as the bleeding should stop, but that there’s a possibility that it would continue and then he would need to be seen by the Accident and Emergency Department at the hospital! I left the GPs feeling emotionally drained, battered and very let down by the NHS.
Fortunately, after almost week, the antibiotics did start to work, but it would be quite a while longer before Callum would return to eating normally. Overall, he lost about 4lbs, which in a toddler is quite significant. We are now trying our best to fatten him up again.
The whole episode has left us exhausted. Three weeks of emotional toil and very little sleep.
We had thought that Callum’s trip to see Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at York Railway Museum would have to be called off. However, on the day we decided to still go. Callum was weak and not really eating still, but we decided that it may just do the trick to perk him up a bit.
We are glad we still went, he obviously enjoyed it. His little face lit up as he saw the different characters… he just wasn’t as ‘giddy’ as perhaps he would have been had he felt on top form.
Before going into the ‘Day Out With Thomas’ section, we looked around the regular railway museum exhibits. Callum loved it, comparing the engines to those from his beloved books and toys. He was really enjoying his day… little did he know that it was going to get much, much better as he was about to meet the ‘real’ engines.
Unfortunately, ‘Thomas’ was also unwell, and he had to stay in the Engine Shed, but Callum still got to got see him. If fact, the little ones (and their grown ups) were allowed to go in and stand where the Driver stands and were shown how Thomas works. Callum still got to ride on ‘Annie’ and ‘Clarabel’ because ‘Sir Topham Hatt’ (the Fat Controller) had asked ‘Percy’ to take over. Callum also got to have a ride on a Caboose being pulled by ‘Diesel’. Other engines on show were ‘Daisy’, ‘Sodor Fire Engine’, ‘Diesel 10’ and ‘Fergus’. There were even theatre stories throughout the day.
It was a good day, made better by the fact it had been a full family trip as we were accompanied by Callum’s Uncle Andrew, cousin Luke, Grandma and Grandad. It was all a welcome change from the tiresome time we had been having lately.
Callum fell asleep before being able to experience everything, but that was ok – there will be more surprises next time. See the Photo Gallery for some pics of the day.
This month has seen Callum discovering the delights of playing with ‘Play-Doh’ at home (he has already been playing with it at pre-school). Oh wow, he loves it! We made a ‘Grandma’ and a ‘Grandad’ and Callum had them cuddling and holding hands. We then made a ‘Callum’. Instantly, he separated the Grandma and Grandad and put the Callum in between them… stating that they were holding hands and walking. He hugged each character in turn and continued to play. It was lovely to watch. Everyone shared everything, and there was lots of cuddling, hugging and holding hands. Everyone also took turns at doing everything (kicking a ball, sleeping, carrying Callum etc.). You can see why psychologists use role-play to read children… it was a wonderful insight into his world – with ‘love’ being the biggest feature. Wonderful, just wonderful.
Callum had another appointment at the hospital this month, this time it was to scan his kidneys, as had been discussed with his Consultant in December. The sonographer said that she couldn’t see anything to be overtly worried about, which is good. We are just waiting for the full results via his consultant. We have received another appointment, but we are a little confused as it is not at the Urology Department, it is to see a Plastic Surgeon… so maybe they have gone back to ‘Plan A’ and decided he will have a little snip of an operation. All will become clear on 3rd April.
Anyway, as the month ends, Callum is near enough back to his normal self. His eating is much improved and he is playing and running about as normal. He has even started to gain a little of the weight that he lost. He still looks very pale, but overall he is on the mend.
As mentioned, it was Ryan's birthday this month, but there were several more celebrating... Grandad, Rob, Colin and Callum's special friend... Lucy. Many happy returns everyone!
Check back to the Celebrations Photo Gallery to see a photo of Callum with Santa at the Christmas Party at his pre-school. A little late addition taken from the wall at school!
Now for some sleep for Mum and Dad…
‘Til next time.
Amanda xXx
