64. Seizure

It was terrifying, to put it mildly.

After every meal time, I put the boys into their play pen for a few minutes while I clean up the floor and their high chairs. If I don't, there is foor everywhere in seconds as they crawl through it. They know the routine and that they will be out again soon.

Our kitchen is open plan with the living room off it. I can hear them all, but can't always see them when I'm cleaning up. I know they are safe in there as it's on the carpet, so even if they fall backwards, it's not a hard splat. I constantly bob my head in for a quick look to check them, and if there is a yell, I run in to see whats going on. It's usually because someone has pinched someone else's toy, someone has been smacked, or is being crawled over and squashed. It's a massive pen, but they all seem to congregate in the same square meter.

I was cleaning up their chairs when I heard a yell, so went running. Rob and Will were sitting playing, but Sam was face down. My first assumption was that his toy had been pinched and he was having a paddy. I picked him up and his was rigid so I was saying "oh dear, tell me what happened". When I turned him over I saw that he wasn't crying, and that his eyes were rolling around in his head.

My first instinct was to flip him over and pat his back like he was choking, even though I knew he wasn't choking. He was breathing and going white and floppy. I didn't know what to do and called James's mum who came straight over. I asked if I call 999, take him to the doc or ring 111. She said 999, he is floppy and clearly poorly, also, a red blotchy rash was starting to appear over his chest. He was only wearing a vest and trousers but we took them off to keep him cool. There was no obvious temperature. I searched him for red marks as my thought now was that he had been hit with a toy and had been knocked out. There wasn't a mark on him. What on earth was wrong with him??

After I called for an ambulance, I rang James who was at work. Poor guy had to sit down when I told him what was going on. He couldn't take it in and asked me to tell him again what had happened. He was going to pack up and come home.

After about 10 minutes of Sam lying in Lyndas arms, all floppy and pale, he started to sit up and wanted to crawl a little. I didn't know what to think by this point but Lynda kept reassuring me that the ambulance was necessary.

They were at our house within about 15 minutes. We had heard them screaming over the hill. Jack would've loved it!

The paramedics came in and looked a little overwhelmed to see 3 babies in white vests that look the same. I think they were worried about mixing them up.

He asked loads of questions and checked his obvs, which were all normal. He then reassured me that I was absolutely right to call them and that they advise me to take him to A&E to have him checked out with paediatrics. Something had clearly happened that wasn't quite right.

When the paramedics left, I ran around gathering a bag full of stuff for us. Drinks, food, toys, nappies, clothes, snacks, milk and his red book. I waited for James and Jack to get back so James could see that Sam was OK, then we headed off to the hospital.

James had seen his sister at nursery, who came straight up to the house to collect Jack and take him for a couple of hours. Lynda needed to get back to work but would come back to help with bedtime. A neighbour also messaged to say she was around if James needed a hand. He had told the people at nursery what was happening and loads of people there also offered to help with Jack, or with the other 2 if needed. People are simply amazing!

Before we set off, we had let them all have a play in the garden. Sam was pretty OK, crawling, playing and taking a couple of steps. I put him in the front of the bus with me so I could keep an eye on him. He was asleep in about 5 minutes. Pretty standard practice with the car. He was still so pale and I was shaking like a leaf.

When we got to the hospital, I put him in the buggy which woke him up. He just lay there, not doing much but watching for a good half hour. This isn't unusual behaviour. They are super chilled in their buggy and car seats. He did look exhausted and pale still.

The collapse had happened at about 2.30 and we left for the hospital at 4. We were seen for his initial assessment pretty quickly. There were about 3 other kids in the waiting room at one time, so thankfully, not busy.

I gave him half a jar of food, which he ate, surprisingly. They are not tasty. He also had a few snacks and some water.

When we were seen by the doctor I told her the story again. Each time I relayed it, I felt like a terrible mum. Not being in the room when it happened. Not knowing when it had started. Not knowing if it had been him that had yelled. And not knowing if he had been knocked out, which I did know deep down, because there were no marks or bumps.

They had all asked if he had been ill recently. He had had a temperature of 37.2 the week before, and all 3 had the standard nursery snot, and they had all had a bit of a teething week the week before. Nothing out of the ordinary. He also had a mark where he had been taking some steps and hit his head on the door casing. All of these things make me panic because I know how hot they have to be with safeguarding kids.

Anyway, the doc said she thinks it was likely to be an RAS seizure. I had wondered if it had been a seizure, but he had only been rigid for a couple of seconds when I got to him. It could've started half a minute before I got in there though. Which really frightens me.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The rigidity, the eyes, the floppiness, the paleness and the lethargy.

They gave me some literature to look at and it all made sense. I also remembered a couple of friends who's kids had similar things when they were young.

This could be a one off, but it could also be something that could happen regularly. If it does happen again, they want to see him again. They have also asked for a video of there is the opportunity to get one. I have sent all the info over to nursery staff, who have been texting all night and morning to check in. Kids tend to grow out of RAS seizures by about 2 years old.

I have worked with a few kids who have seizures, and had a bit of training in epilepsy and epileptic seizures. These are not the same thing, but the initial response is. Recovery position incase of vomit.

In a way, it's a relief to know what we think it was, but it doesn't take away the fact that they are scary, and horrible things to witness.

On the way home from hospital, it was about an hour before bed time and he was clearly exhausted. I had given him some milk but then did lots of singing, prodding, and shaking rattles to keep him awake. He made it to the village, then threw up a load!! Poor boy was distraught!! And I then go into panic about secondary choking. He has been fine since, so I think it was car sickness.

It's now nearly 24 hours since he collapsed. He has been absolutely fine. He has been quiet and tired this morning, and wanting to sit and cuddle lots. I have also been spaced out and panicky. Every noise makes me jump up and check them. He was lying down with a teething toy earlier and I panicked. I think it'll take me a while to recover from the shock and stress of it.

I spent the night remembering the kids I had worked with in the past, and one imparticular who had an episode of repeated seizures which had terrified me.

Anyway, all is well and we know what to look out for. If it happens again, we will look for potential triggers. Shock can be one, or pain. This could've been from a viral infection.