There Has to Be a Better Way to Earn a Buck

Sunday night I sat visiting with my Mom when Whitney came upstairs complaining of her chest hurting. We were fresh from 4th of July feasting so I told her maybe she had a little heartburn from all the rich food and treats, at which Whitney's face crumpled into tears and she guiltily told me she had swallowed a coin.


Every word of every scolding I could give ran through my head in an instant, but the look in her eyes and her obvious physical distress stopped my tirade.

As fate would have it, earlier that day I had been chatting with my cousin Alicia and her husband Ryan who just finished all his schooling to become an Ear, Nose, and Throat doc (I know there is a long, technical name fore that type of doctor but I am making it easy on all of us). Ryan had shared with me all the crazy things he has fished out of peoples throats. Now I had a crazy thing down a throat so I gave Ryan a quick call. His diagnosis - coin stuck in throat - go get X-rays.


Which we promptly did and here is what we got:



Yes, the big, bright, shiny spot on the X-ray is the coin that lodged in Whitney's throat. Her body repeatedly tried to push it down. She was so uncomfortable and would just curl up in a ball each time it happened. As we waited in the ER, the nurse placed an IV then gave Whitney a little Morphine to ease the pain and relax the muscles in the esophagus. Getting an IV is a bit scary for little ones but Whit squeezed me tight until it was over, then looked like this after the dose of medicine -

I personally think she got a bit loopy from the drugs but she certainly felt much better.

After a short wait, the GI doc (again - not technical) came in. I am sure he loved the late Sunday night, 4th of July weekend call! He was great though and really put Whitney at ease (or perhaps it was the morphine talking still).

With 2 doctors and 4 nurses ready to do their part, they put Whitney under sedation, sent a little scope and tweezer-like instrument down her throat and came out with, wait for it . . .

a shiny new dollar coin.

Oooch! No wonder her chest hurt!

After making sure all was well inside, the nurses brought Whitney around when she quickly asked to see the coin. Within minutes she wanted to have a drink, walk around, and ask questions about what happened when she was asleep. My mom teased that Whitney should become a doctor because she was so interested in everything rather than bolting for the doors.

At the end, Whit left with her dollar and these awesome slipper socks that she has worn around the house and to bed almost every day.

During the procedure the ER nurse turned to me and commented that I seemed very calm through the whole thing. I am not usually one to freak out during these minor emergencies (I save that for when I get home by myself).

However, I had extra reason to be so peaceful this time. I told this kind nurse that the entire evening rather than feeling scared or worried I had felt an overwhelming gratitude that we were undergoing an simple and painless procedure rather than dealing with potentially the worst day of my life. Over and over I gave silent prayers of thanksgiving to my Father in Heaven for watching over this little girl, for protecting her, allowing us to keep her here with us, well and sound.

We love you Whitney, ER visits and all.