how we got here part 1

Dad's  point of view - How we ended up in the Stollery Children's Hospital

Gabby has been getting headaches for about 2 to 3 years, starting as earaches but getting worse and going more into the center of her head.  Mom had migraines growing up so we, and doctors we visited, treated the headaches as migraines.  Her ears were clear and there didn't seem to be any other problems.  So she has had migraines since grade 2.

Otherwise Gabby has been a quite healthy 10 year old.  She does well at school, has good friends, helps her teachers, plays piano, guitar and ukulele.   She has always been on the small side, but still quite active doing school activities, swimming and playing on the trampoline at home with brothers and sister.

I have never had a migraine, but Mom has since she was a kid.  She used to get them almost every month, and when we got married it was down to every 2nd month.  After having kids it's now 3 times a year or so.  I always feel bad that I can't help take away that pain.  No light, no noise seems to be the only way to survive a migraine day.  It's even worse with Gabby.  She would often wake up in the night sobbing from the pain of a headache.  We would give her children's strength acetaminophen, water and cuddle with her until she went to sleep.  Visits to the doctor's office said to keep doing that.  Yet she suffered and we couldn't really do anything to take the pain away.  I felt a little useless.

This past Christmas we noticed Gabby's left pupil was more dilated than the other.  We made an appointment with the optometrist.  The headaches were getting worse.  The optometrist said her vision had dropped considerably in her left eye and made a glass’ prescription and referred us to an ophthalmologist.  When the ophthalmologist confirmed the appointment it was 5 months away.  We were in January looking at not getting until May.  We felt it was a long time for Gabby to keep going through the headaches.

At school Gabby was going to try sunglasses because we were seeing if the lights were contributing to the headaches.  Turns out Gabby didn't like wearing sunglasses in class.  We tried a hat but the school doesn't allow hats, but the teacher said a visor would be OK.   Gabby tried a visor but it didn't help much.  She started missing more school from headaches, and she loves school.  And it was now multiple days in a row.

A visit to the doctor resulted in Gabby getting Tylenol 1s.  The doctor said seeing the ophthalmologist would be the best thing to do.  I started calling the ophthalmologist once a week to try and get in earlier.

The beginning of March and Gabby's left eye has started to turn inward and she started seeing double.  she would joke about which me was the real me.  Despite the headaches, and now vomiting, Gabby kept her weird sense of humour.  I got her audio books because reading and watching TV was hurting.

On Monday, march 6, Mom called our local optometrist and he said to let the ophthalmologist know that symptoms are worsening.  Mom called the ophthalmologist office and after some discussion was able to get an appointment for Thursday.

On Thursday mom and Gabby went an hour into Red Deer to see the ophthalmologist.  He looked at Gabby's  eyes and said they look healthy but that there may be pressure behind them.  He called Red Deer hospital to get Gabby in to see a pediatrician right away and get a CT scan.

They waited in the Emergency Room for a while and the pediatrician saw them.  He went through the symptoms and checked ears and eyes, not really finding anything.  he reluctantly sent Gabby for the CT scan.  After the scan he told mom they found something and that he would book Gabby to get into either Calgary or Edmonton children's hospital and we had to be there Friday morning.  we chose Edmonton because we have more family there.

Part 2 from dad's point of viewing coming soon.