Last Monday I was preparing Maximilien's birthday party when the Creche called Julien to tell him that Alixe was running a fever. They gave her doliprane (baby tylonol) and asked us to pick her up after her nap. I finished early and left a message with the director to call me as soon as she was awake because I was nearby and could come and get her. When I went to get her they gave me her daily report of Tres bien manger, Tres bien dormi, etc... except they thought she was a bit off. She fell off a chair from sitting position which they found strange but she didn't cry. I carried her over to the tea house to finish up the last minute decorations before Maximilien's party at 4:30pm. It was nearly 3pm when we arrived to the tea house. Alixe asked immediately to lay down. She told me she was tired. I made her a little area to lay on by the toys in the tea house. She layed on the floor playing and singing to herself. Obviously, she wasn't feeling good. I offered her water to drink which she took but only took very small sips each time. I had brought more Doliprane with me because I knew her next dose was coming up at 4:30pm. We blew up ballons together. She was too tired to get excited about them. It was about 4:10pm and I started to set up the table for gouter. She immediately told me she was hungry and wanted to have a snack. I set her up at the table and she started in on her pomme potes and she was singing to herself. I turned my back to fill gift bags when I noticed she wasn't singing anymore. I turned around to check on her and saw her hunched over with her chin on the table. I asked her what she was doing and went over to her then immediately realized she was having a seizure. Trying not to panick, I gently scooped her up and layed her down on the floor. I realized quickly what was happening and I tried to make her comfortable but then I saw her face turning blue. She was still seizing and now she was choking. I tried to open her mouth but it was nearly impossible because she was in mid seizure. I waited for the seizure to pass all the while watching the clock. One minute passed. Two minutes passed and I had to get her breathing again! I crammed my fingers into her mouth to get the bread out and turned her on her side and wacked her back and the rest of the bread came flying out of her mouth. She inhaled loudly and then went on seizing. It was a nightmare right before my eyes. She was drooling profusely and it was like some scene off of TV except right before my eyes. Now that she was breathing I picked her up, ran to the restaurant across the street and called for help. In that moment, I saw everyone on the packed terrasse take out their phones and call someone. Alixe by this time was still shaking. She had moments where her eyes were open but her eyes were rolled to the side and she was staring off into space. I called her name but she didn't respond. I was panicked and frantic. I could hear myself screaming.
The firemen were the first to arrive and swiftly took alixe from my arms and started to work on her. They reassured me that she was breathing and nothing was going to happen to her right now. I sobbed that my husband and son and his friends from school were arriving any minute and just as I finished my sentence I heard Maximilien's voice. Then I saw Julien and Max as they looked through the door way to see Alixe and I on the floor. Julien had to get Max and his friends to the tea house away from the commotion and I had to leave with Alixe in the ambulance. The separation was painful.
I felt the whole neighborhood stop in concern. These were the people who live and work around the tea house so they knew who I was. Shop owners from around the restaurant came over to see what was happening. Nanny and parents stood at the park gates right across the street from where the ambulance was parked. It was surreal.
We were rushed off to Necker, the children's specialized hospital in Paris. If you arrive to Necker in the ambulance you take priority over everyone else waiting to see a doctor. It was painful to see those parent's faces fall when they saw Alixe and I go ahead of them. I felt bad. I have been in that position where you're waiting and waiting to see a doctor.
Alixe was immediately stripped and given fluids to cool her down. The doctors came to check on her often and they throughly examned her to find out what had happened.
Alixe started to come around when we arrived to Necker. She started responding to m questions and looked me straight in the eye. This was a relief because I wasn't sure what had happened to her brain while she was out.
The doctor explained to me that Alixe had a convulsion hyperthermique or a febrile seizure. Her core body temperature had gotten too hot for her too fast and her body sort of shut down to deal with it. We have to be vigilant now when she gets fevers and continue fever treatments for a full 24 hours never waiting for her fever to manifest to giver her medication.
They ran tests on her to make sure she didn't have infections in her urine and did a blood sugar test to make sure she wasn't hyperglycemic. After it was all over, she was so tired she slept for 12 hours straight. I kept her home for nearly a week to keep her close to me.
The next day, we stopped at the park after picking up Maximilien from school and the nannies and parents came to see me. They were so nice asking about Alixe and saying that they were praying for us. Then a couple parents mentioned that the same thing happened to them recently as well! It seems it can be pretty common but I've never heard anyone mention it before. All I know is, I hope that it never happens again because it was the scariest moment of my life. I believe my gardian angel was there in the tea house in that moment when I thought I may lose Alixe. I can't even imagine what would have happened if we were at home and she had this seizure in her bedroom and I was in the kitchen! I would not have heard a thing.
The timing of it all was really incredible but in the end if we had cancelled Max's party of I had gone home instead of being at the tea house, I think the outcome really would have been different. I really think I would have lost her that day.
Whatever higher power is working here I am grateful. I try to focus on the good in things but I can't help feeling absolutely helpless in a situation like this. I had no control and that is incredibly scary. I have to focus on moving forward all the while remembering what I learned here and I hope to God that it never happens again.
So glad to hear she is okay, but how terrifying. My best-friend's little girl has these when she gets a fever and the first time it happened was horrifying for them all.
Sending you and girl lots of hugs.
Posted by: vanessa | April 03, 2012 at 17:31
Aimee, I'm so relieved to hear Alixe recovered fully and you now know what signs to look for if, God forbid, anything like that were ever to happen again. I truly believe your guardian angel was looking out for you and your precious daughter that day and it warms my heart to hear how everyone in the quartier was so supportive. I can't believe how common this can be and if there can be any silver lining to this horrible episode, it's that you've enlightened me and perhaps others on febrile seizures - something I'd never heard of. Big hugs to you and your sweet famille.
Posted by: Sarah | April 04, 2012 at 02:39
Waow! I am really glad that Alixe is OK now. You did an amazing job handling a super scary situation and should be very proud of yourself!
Posted by: Caroline | April 04, 2012 at 03:53
Terrifying. Watching someone, anyone, have a seizure is the weakest feeling in the world, but your sweet little Alixe? Horrifying. I'm glad she's well again - please give her a super squishy hug from me. :(
Posted by: Jocelyn | April 04, 2012 at 05:01
Oh gosh...how heartbreaking to go through
I'm so glad she is better now
Maybe a baby monitor in her room or mike thing?
What a close call.
Posted by: parisbreakfast | April 06, 2012 at 12:05
i am sorry to think you were so frightened and that she was so ill. sending protective cooling healthy thoughts.
Posted by: purejuice | April 12, 2012 at 04:01
Oh, how terrible for you all. I just thought I would catch up on your blog as haven't been on for a while and never expected this. I am so, so glad everything is alright now, I cried when I read this! I have 3 boys and it is every parents nightmare. You are so terribly brave! Please keep us posted on Alixe xx
Posted by: Victoria | April 12, 2012 at 17:23
If it helps we went through these with all three of my kids and they have all grown into healthy happy tweens and teens. It is the SCARIEST thing in the world to go through though and my heart goes out to you. If they are only febrile seizures though, she will outgrow them by six and she will be fine. Honest. Good luck!
Posted by: Leanne | April 13, 2012 at 04:25
I agree with Leanne above -- we went through this, too, and it was horrifying, but my kids are fine. One thing we learned was that it runs in families - my mom and I both had them, and two of our boys did, too. Their kids (when they have them someday) will also possibly have them. Crossing my fingers that it doesn't happen to Alixe again.
Posted by: Anne | April 16, 2012 at 02:57
My youngest son had this when he was 2, and I was sure he was going to die in front of my eyes. My pediatrician was superb, trained at UCSF as a neonatalogist, and he said later, slowly and clearly: it's NOT how high the fever goes that triggers these seizures, it's the RAPIDITY of the ascent. He warned me to watch Taylor when he didn't look well, take his temperature, and immediately get him into a tepid bath if it was above normal. Taylor only had one more fever that high, which left me crying to my pediatrician on the phone..who gently reminded me that once the fever gets high, the danger of a seizure is over. I have never in my life been as frightened as I was that day, and my heart goes out to you in pure sympathy.
Posted by: jadie | April 17, 2012 at 07:39