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Theta Mom®

Redefining Motherhood

I Love Technology

I love technology.

You may immediately think I am referring to an iphone, my obsession with Twitter or the use of email, texting and the like for seamless accessibility.

No, not today. Not this post.

It all started few days ago when my son began showing the usual signs of seasonal allergies. He had the typical watery eyes, runny nose and mild cough. We keep these symptoms under control with allergy meds that seem to work really well for him. But late one evening his eyes became swollen shut and things quickly went from bad to worse…

What started out as a mild cough my son started to get short of breath and he soon complained that he had tightness in his chest. It was difficult for him to even pick up his toys because he lacked energy. Any physical movement appeared like a monumental task. And then I heard it. I heard the wheeze and I knew it was here.

My son was having an asthma attack.

I immediately ran into the bedroom and grabbed his nebulizer {which uses compressed air to deliver medicine through a mist that can be inhaled}. I brought down the “fun machine” and nervously poured his meds into the bottom of the holder. I sat my son down on a chair and handed him the mouthpiece and with a press of a button he began to get instant relief.

When I look at my son in this situation who has used a nebulizer (on an as-needed basis) since he was 8 weeks old, I think of my own mother now that I am a mom. When I was my son’s age at home showing the signs of an attack my mother didn’t have a nebulizer. The only thing she had was a set of car keys and lots of prayers.

She would wrap my body in a blanket and put me in the arms of my older brother in the back of our old station wagon. My brother kept pillows propped beneath my head and tried to make me laugh while my mother asked every ten seconds if I was ok as she drove like the speed of lightening to the hospital.

These were the times that my lips turned blue and my body was cold. My brother would continue telling my mother that I didn’t look good because I couldn’t breathe.

He was scared.

I was scared.

My mother was petrified.

Upon arrival, she would carry my little body directly into the ER pleading for immediate assistance. I would be put on a stretcher and wheeled to a room where I was immediately given adrenaline and a face mask of oxygen. I would sleep numerous nights in what looked like a huge tent surrounding the hospital bed as my mother held my hand and never left my side.

Now staring into the eyes of my own son as the mist from the nebulizer reaches his mouth and into his lungs I can only imagine the sheer panic and fear my mother endured, doing the best she could in the late 70’s with technology that was non-existent.

So why do I love technology? Because I have a nebulizer that provides my child with breath – which provides me with peace of mind. Yes, I love technology.

And mom, I love you.

Comments

  5. I could feel your thankfulness by reading the post. I have had one asthma attack as an adult; it through me for a loop. I didn’t have an inhaler because my doc didn’t think I would ever need one. It scared the hell out me. I’ve been fine since but did have the opportunity to use a nubulizer…on an eight-month-old. My youingest got the croup last year and needed some help. The only way we could get her to breathe in the medicine was to let her nurse while I held it to her nose. Not a fun experience.

    Keep being thankful. It’s a beautiful thing.
    .-= KellieS´s last blog ..Five Best Instant Energy Boosters =-.

    Reply

  11. I feel for you. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for your mom, and I hope I never have to find out.

    My son has an allergy to eggs and tree nuts and it is one of my biggest fears that one day I might have to use the epi-pen that is carried around with us everywhere we go. But from the sounds of it, this too, is a new option available to us now that wasn’t available before.

    I love technology too.
    .-= Tropical Mum´s last blog ..Let’s Get Physical…and Friday Follow =-.

    Reply

    • Believe it or not, aside from the asthma and allergies, he also has a severe nut allergy so we have the Epi-Pen everywhere we go, too. I feel lucky to know I have the ability to give that to him if he needs it – because that can also mean life or death. Yes, I love technology!!!

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  12. We are so lucky to have access to so much wonderful new technology. It boggles my mind to wonder what will be available 50 years from now.

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  13. I sympathize & empathize with you completely. My youngest daughter & I both have asthma, in fact we just received a new nebulizer. I do love technology . Modern medicine has come such a long way in 30 yrs. I can remember heading to the ER late at night. I pray that one day there will be a magic pill that works just as fast! You’re in my thoughts & prayers! I love your site & keep up the great blogging!

    Reply

  15. I’m going to add to technology – thank goodness for medical advances. My son had what JFK’s son had, the one who died while he was president. My son is a vibrant and perfectly normal teen with attitude. The difference between the two? 30 years of medical advances.

    Yes, thank goodness for all we have!
    .-= Sarah Baron´s last blog ..Hair Down There – Part 3 =-.

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  16. I’m so thankful that I live in this era of time as we are so blessed with the medical technology of today. If I lived 100 years ago, I would have died three different times, but due to modern med. tech, I’m still here. I’m so thankful!!!

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  17. I love this post. I think of my little girl who has reflux and know that if she had been born at another time she would have had to just suffer through it and we would have to hope that it didn’t cause lasting damage.
    .-= amy´s last blog ..I’m Goin’ Back to Cali =-.

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  24. What a touching, eye-opening post. It makes you wonder what kind of technologies our own children will have access to when they become parents doesn’t it. I’m glad your son is okay. I can only imagine how scary it is for you, even with the latest and greatest to help you out. Hugs to you and your son.
    .-= Christine LaRocque´s last blog ..Plague of the perfectionist: Part 1 =-.

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  25. I admit it’s not that hard to do, but you got me. I’m crying.

    As a mother, I can not imagine what you’re mother went through. I can not imagine the weight of that thought on her shoulders each day of when you might have another attack.

    There are a lot of frivolous reasons to love technology, but this is one of the best of all.

    Thanks for sharing.
    .-= M.e.:Daily´s last blog ..Spring! =-.

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  28. My husband, my son, and I each benefit from medical technology. I hear you loud and clear. Thanks for the reminder that we are lucky indeed, to live in times like these.

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    • Aimee – Thank you so much for your comment and I’ve been meaning to tell you, I use IE and everytime I go to load your page, it never fully loads and I get that “not responding” message. Have you heard from others about having an issue with your page loading?

      Reply

      • It’s funny, I often wish I lived in simpler times when we didn’t have so many choices, so much waste, plastic, and even the technology that seems to eat up huge chunks of my time. But your post reminded me that without that technology it’s possible that none of my family would be here today. My husband suffers from type 1 diabetes and Crohn’s disease. I am asthmatic myself. My son was almost 11 lbs and posterior at birth. Without the c-section I had at his birth, it’s possible neither of us would have made it, or he might have been damaged from being in the birth canal for too long. But because of modern medicine, we’re all still breathing, and doing it a little easier, too.

        Thanks for letting me know about the issue. I use FF and Safari, so I can’t check it but I think my mom uses IE. I will check in with her.

        For now, try going to http://www.redshoearts.com and clicking on the “blog” link in my toolbar. Please let me know if you still have issues that way.

        Reply

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