It Was 'Only' Croup, Right...?

When you hold your baby in your arms for the first time – you can’t imagine ever being without them. Unfortunately for me, as I sat in the resuscitation unit of Bath RUH early am on Monday morning, I was being told this was a possibility.

How? After all, it was ‘Only’ Croup right?

Ivy-Alice woke up on Sunday morning with the distinctive barking cough. I knew it was croup, I knew fresh air is supposed to help, so in the afternoon my husband and I, took her out along with her older brother for a walk to a local agricultural show. She seemed under the weather but ok. As you can see from her photo in the pushchair, she doesn’t seem unwell. Her barking cough carried on throughout the day, but she still seemed to be ok. Towards the end of the evening she started to become very distressed, calpol nor nurofen had helped & neither did the distractions. After coming home to bed I was hoping a good nights sleep would do her the world of wonders.

I went to bed as I had work in the morning and my husband is on holiday for a couple of weeks, Little did I know that in a few hours my husband would wake me up asking for some help. I could see she was very upset and was by now struggling to breathe. I called 111 – although I almost didn’t thinking I was just over reacting. Without asking anymore than name, age & address the lady said ‘I’m sending a paramedic because I can hear how she is struggling over the phone’.

Within minutes of the paramedic arriving and giving Salbutamol (what’s inside a blue inhaler) via nebuliser she said an ambulance needed to be called.

On arrival at the hospital we were greeted by several medical professionals. After a few hours of trying Steroids & Adrenaline via nebulisers, & another drug I can’t remember the name of, I found myself sat holding my beautiful girl in the resuscitation unit being told they expected her to stop breathing & that if she did they hoped they would be able to take her to theatre to put a tube down her throat and hopefully that would save her.

But no promises.

How? She was fine not long ago! It’s just Croup and she is only 1!!

I could’ve fell apart.

They decided to give her a very high dose of adrenaline as one final kick before everyone just ‘waited’. Thankfully she became exhausted she had fallen asleep so we were able to close the doors & as I held her I was able to hold the little mask on her face. With me, staff of intensive care, paediatricians, a doctor & ears nose and throat specialists all ‘watched her like a hawk’ – their words. Thankfully this time as what felt like an eternity passed the gasps became manageable & the oxygen levels rose & her heart rate went down. After much consideration she was allowed up to the baby unit. After another night with close monitoring & several more doses of steroids & adrenaline she was allowed home. She is now asleep in her cot, I have direct numbers for the hospital incase she deteriorates, and been told to call 999 if she starts again. I have never ever in my life been so thankful for our NHS & the absolutely amazing staff at Bath RUH who had a plan, & worked so hard to keep my baby girl with us and thankfully without her giving up. She’s a true fighter! ❤️

⭐️ * Please raise awareness of Croup!! If you experience anything at all that thinks your child may have Croup PLEASE seek help. 15% of respiratory infections are diagnosed as croup. 9% need medical assistance, and thankfully Death is stated as rare. The medical staff weren’t surprised when I explained I didn’t realise it could become so serious, & also agreed that there isn’t enough awareness.
To think I almost didn’t phone for help is mind baffling. I’m sure I would’ve lost my girl that night if I hadn’t!!! * ⭐️ #CroupAwareness