Adventures of PNeumonia Boy

To be annoying to an almost 14 year old sick boy one must pronounce the ‘p’. PNeumonia Boy is really sick. I think we are one day away from the worst of it, but it is still a scary place to be.

This started on Friday, December 9th when he went to bed early feeling poorly. By Monday I was worried about dehydration because he was not eating or drinking and when he tried he would lose it. He was given some medicine to help him keep liquids in with a recheck the next day to make sure he was able to do so and did not need to be admitted for dehydration.

So much of this has become a blur now. The coughing got worse and worse. He said his chest was hurting. We couldn’t keep him awake for much time at all. I was still having to coax him into eating and drinking. We couldn’t get his fever to break. His breathing was labored. I could go on, but you get the idea. The boy is sick. After a week, a Z-Pack, a few more visits, and ruling out both flu and strep we went back on Tuesday the 20th and an x-ray confirming my suspicions of pneumonia.

He was sent home with some meds and instructions. On Wednesday he sounded worse, looked worse, and this mama was scared. We called to talk to the doc to work him in and they were double booked, but we did not think he needed the ER. They made an appointment for Thursday and the doc was rather worried. She heard some heavy wheezing and whistling sounds often associated with lung collapse or on its way to collapse. She put him on a breathing treatment right away, followed by some physiotherapy, and another breathing treatment. He was sent home with a nebulizer and medication for breathing every 2-4 hours (preferably 2). Any other doctor most likely would have admitted him to the hospital. And she said any other patient/family and she would have admitted him. But she knew we would follow through and make sure he took his medicines and breathing treatments and she really did not want him in the hospital with all the other things in there (like flu and RSV).

He went back again this morning. She said his lungs are still wheezing, but they do not sound as stressed. The breathing treatments are working. YEA!!! We are still in scary zone because of relapse and he is basically under house arrest (to prevent him from getting anything else by exposure). He is not contagious. What ever bugs caused this are most likely contagious, but the pneumonia itself is not. Poor thing has had more antibiotics and meds in him than he’s had in his entire life total to this point, probably more than his life plus all five siblings total.

PNeumonia Boy is a real trooper though. The other day after sitting up for a while (he hadn’t felt like sitting up more than propped in over a week) I found him stretched out on the couch and I asked him if he was feeling worse again. His reply? “No ma’am. I’m just hogging the couch.” Then yesterday he asked how long he could get away with asking others to do things for him. His humor and charm are returning. Other than the frown he wears because he hates the nebulizer I have seen him smile today.

We are still in a scary zone and things are still rough, trying to prevent moving backwards, but this mama is feeling blessed. Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep praying for him.