Born on September 16 1987 another beautiful little child born to our little family of three. She was perfect in every way just as a child is hoped to be, we left the maternity ward with all the promise of the future for Meg. In a matter of months this would all change.
After three weeks at home Meg become ill. feverish, no appetite and crying. We headed to the Doctor and once there we were sent directly to the hospital, after many tests including lumber puncture they diagnosed her with viral meningitis dangerous but not life threatening.
After three weeks of IV antibiotics we were allowed to take her home, she was well and had her found her beautiful smile.
We were so happy to have her home again and with every baby she progressed and grew daily, she did however have MANY problems with ear infections and severe asthma. It seemed as though she was always on some kind of antibiotic for her ears but with all this she still flourished. Then at eleven months old our world fell apart.
Covered with a horrible blue purple rash , fever, crankiness, loss of appetite we rush her to the hospital again. The emergency Doctor decided to admit her for observation due to the rash and told us that he was pretty sure it was an allergy related to an antibiotic she was on for her ears, we settled her for the night and went home for a little rest.
Daniel (my husband) went to do some homework as he was falling behind with his his university studies and I headed off to bed soon after we got our oldest daughter to sleep. At about Three in the morning the phone rang, the call you pray to god that you never get it was the hospital.
Me had crashed and had become very ill and they needed our permission to perform a lumber puncture as they were sure she had bacterial meningitis, we gave them permission over the phone, found a sitter for Angela and went back to the hospital.
Soon after we arrived we were told that unfortunately Meg had experience a seizure during the procedure and had coded on the table ( her heart had stopped) they did life saving procedures on her for twenty minutes. They stabilized her and she was sent to PICU ( intensive care), she spent the next six days fighting for her life. After the third day we had a conference with the neurosurgeon, he told us that in all honesty if she did survive she would probably be a vegetable for the rest of her life and that we needed to to think about letting her go , or a least tell her it was ok to go if she didn't have any fight left inside.
The next day Daniel and I went to see Meg. We sat by her bed and each took turns telling her in our own words that it was ok if she couldn't fight anymore and that even she she decided to go she would always , always be loved and a part of our family. We cried tears of sadness that day, never had we ever been so devastated and helpless but we truly believed we could honor her and her choice. We wrapped her tightly in her favorite blanket, kissed her cheek and left both praying she would decide to stay a while with us.
I walked back on the ward the next morning at around eight in the morning with dread on my face and hope in my heart. Carol met me at the desk as she did every time she was on shift as the RN for that floor. "Sharon" she exclaimed its Meg, she is waiting for you I walked into picu and there she wa sitting in her crib holding her "bubbies" (bottle) and demanding juice! Our baby decided to stay.
Now its 1999, Me is eleven years old and going into grade seven. She does have a brain injury because of the meningitis, she struggles with school, memory, emotional, development, immaturity and emotional withdrawal but with all that she is a blessing and is cherished. She has almost a savant type relationship with science, space, animals etc. but the regular academic things are very hard.
We are truly blessed with Meg, she makes us smile everyday with her amazing sense of humor, she makes us stop and think when she speaks and late late at night she makes us weep with love and happiness and pride. PLEASE , PLEASE, MAKE SURE EACH ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN GETS THE HIB SHOT FOR MENINGITIS AND MAY JUST SAVE A LIFE!
Thank you Meaghen for staying.
love forever Mom, Dad, Angela and Measha.
Email Sharon
