Waiting is the worst. How long do I wait? Does he need another CapriSun? Can he even still swallow? If I leave his side to get another, will he try to move and hurt himself? Should I skip the sugar and go straight for the Glucagon pen? Are the kids still asleep? Should I shut the door so they don't see this and get scared? Do I wake Pinky and ask for her help? Where is his Glucagon pen anyway? Should I go look for it or just go get the Brain's pen? Do I give it in his thigh or his hip? Can I hold his leg still long enough to inject it? Will the needle really go through his shorts? If I jab him in the rear, is he going to kick me? Is he getting enough oxygen? How long do I let this go before I call 911? Can I cry now?
I've never had to administer glucose from the pen. I've prepared it but never actually given it. I panicked a little. I mixed the solution, drew back the syringe, and it filled with bubbles. Frantically, I flicked the syringe to get the air to the top. Again and again, I flicked, pushed the air out, and drew it back again. Finally, I settled for a slightly smaller dose with less bubbles. As I grabbed SuperD's leg, I told him what I was doing, and he stretched his leg out for me as best as he could. I pinched his skin, took a deep breath, and jabbed it in. I guess I had been prepared for him to yell out or fight me or kick me. But there was no change - he kept convulsing. And the waiting began again.
I tried to reassure myself that his body had what it needed to return to normal; it just takes time.
The convulsions began to lessen with more time in between them. He lifted his head off the floor and put it on the bed, and for the first time, I could see his face again. His skin was beet red, and he was sweating as if he had just had a workout. In truth, I guess he had. Just to be sure his blood sugar was returning to normal, I made him drink another CapriSun. It was then that he began to talk again. His memory of the event was foggy. He wondered why he was on the floor. He said his left thigh was sore. He asked for candy and some ice water. I brought him both and a towel. The sheets were soaked from where he had laid his head down.
Fifteen minutes after it was over, I finally checked his blood sugar - 58. Normal is 70-150. We wondered how low it must have been during the seizure.
So here I sit. In bed. Awake. Unable to sleep until I know he's back in the normal range and won't go low again. It's been thirty minutes now, and his blood sugar level is up to 121. I still don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while. It's going to be a long day for both of us. In the meantime, he's beside me, snoring. Yeah, I won't be able to sleep any time soon.
