My first ambulance ride

Most of you know the story by now, but this week wasn't so much fun.

Monday night I spent the entire night coughing my head off. I wake myself up sometimes during the night, but Monday was rough. When Tuesday morning arrived, I was better and things were somewhat back to normal. But Tuesday night, I was exhausted. I hate being held -- too confining. But Tuesday night, I just laid in Mommy's lap for an hour. It was the only thing I wanted to do. My body was warm, and I just didn't have the energy to play like normal.

Wednesday morning, Mommy and Papa took my temperature and it was 101 -- whatever that means. So they told me I had to go to the doctor. That's fine. Dr. Hodge-Spears is cool because she tries to be friends with me. The nurses there are cool also, until they break out the needles.

So Mommy took me to the doctor and my temperature was 103. Apparently that's really warm. They taped this cord on my toe and they started getting really nervous. I wasn't getting enough oxygen, so they did an X-ray. NOT ENJOYABLE. I had to straddle this seat while Mommy pulled my arms straight up as this big machine went around me. It was sooooo annoying. I'll admit I started crying a lot. Once the results came back, they doctor said I had a collapsed lung. Mommy was scared, and called Papa. I was scared too because I didn't know why everyone else was scared.

Then they put this mask on me that was hooked up to this huge green tank. Didn't like the mask, but the doctor said it helped me breathe better. It did, but it was right in my face. Papa arrived and we sat there talking for a while until these two people came. Then I had to get in my car seat and they strapped my car seat on a gurney. It was sort of fun as I rode down the hallway and out the door. I thought the doctor visit was over.

Once we were outside, the two uniformed people loaded the gurney -- with me on it -- into an ambulance. Mommy came, too, while Papa headed home to get some clothes. Apparently we were headed to the hospital. I thought we were going to ride with sirens on. I love sirens. But no -- no sirens were needed. We rode forever until we arrived at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. We went into the Emergency Room entrance, where about four nurses were there waiting on me. What a welcome.

At Children's, they finally got me into a room, where no less than a dozen people came to see me. A few people just came and did some work on the computer (I know how to do that!). A few others came and hooked up some wires to my chest (that was weird). This one guy, who was from Knoxville (Go Vols!) put a needle in my left hand. Ouch! He was trying to get an IV started but it didn't work. Then he went to my right hand. Ouch! That didn't work, either. So next was my leg, where they took some blood. Ouch!

Once the samples came back, the doctor there determined I did not have a collapsed lung. I have pneumonia.

So what does that mean, I asked. It meant another shot at the hospital, followed by one Thursday and one Friday. It meant Tylenol every four hours and Motrin every six hours. It meant lots of water. It meant Mommy and Papa checking my breathing every so often. And it meant I got to go home. I was feeling fine, just a cough and runny nose. I've played with Mommy and Papa just like normal, and I've had to go back to the doctor every day (Friday being the last). Another thing, I have to take breathing treatments where Mommy or Papa puts this hose in my face that sprays a mist. It helps get the junk out of my lungs.

It was a scary few days for me, and for Mommy and Papa. But we're doing well now. I'm sleeping good, and back to eating hot dogs, carrots, cheese and bananas.

But before I go, I have to send some shout outs:

-- Nichole Johnson, for helping me and Mommy at the hospital
-- Zina Widman, Mommy's friend and boss for hanging with us at the hospital
-- Pastor Jamie, for holding me while Mommy fed me at the hospital
-- Kati Auton and Amy Weaver, for stopping by to make me smile
-- Bill and Marlene Kimm, for planning to take Mace Dogg out if I stayed at the hospital
-- Bobby and Emily Noble, for offering to take Mace Dogg out and walk her
-- Everyone who called or e-mailed ... you know who you are!
-- Everyone at The Salvation Army who prayed for me thanks to the e-mail chain
-- Everyone at King Spring Baptist Church who prayed for me due to the e-mail
-- Everyone at Lynn Valley Baptist Church who prayed for me

I've probably missed somebody, and I'll take heat for it by Mommy and Papa. But it showed me there are a lot of people who care about me, and a lot of people who love me. And you know what? I love you, too.

Hudson W. Pate