The Almond Incident

A couple weeks ago (it has taken me a few to recover), Samuel aspirated part of an almond.  To break it down, he was eating some chocolate covered almonds (he had a whole handful), I took some away from him, he cried, he choked a little and coughed a lot.  I thought he was ok but after his nap he was wheezing.  Still, I didn't think this was grounds for an ER visit (of course it happened on a Sunday).  In nurse-like fashion, I ask a friend who was at work what to do.  We both think it isn't a big deal but she runs the situation by a doctor who says Samuel needs to be seen right away to have the almond particle surgically removed.  Moving forward, he and I spent the whole day at the hospital with plans to have surgery that evening.  When it was time for the procedure, he seemed to be better, we went home and followed up the next day with our pediatrician.  Our doctor knew I didn't want to go back to the hospital but he could tell Samuel's right lung was not moving air as well as the left.  We headed to the surgeon the next day and had the almond out by the afternoon.  Samuel was such a trooper the whole time.  Paul and I were emotionally exhausted, I really hated to have him put to sleep but it was quick and he was back to normal immediately after.

Yes, he ate a lot of popsicles in those few days.  In fact, before surgery they gave him 1 hour to have clear liquids (he had not eaten since the night before) so we bought him a box of popsicles and he ate 5.  That's the picture where he is eating 2 at a time! 
Also, that bear he is holding Molly gave to him on our first visit.  She told me she let him take her bear and he carried that thing everywhere, so sweet.