We received our letter from Grove Hill today about Dr. Friedman leaving the practice.  I called immediately to request that the medical records be released to Dr. Friedman’s new practice. Of course it’s not that easy so I now need to wait until they mail me the form so I can then sign it and mail it back.  The letter didn’t state what her new address is – I believe this is Grove Hill’s way of making Dr. Friedman’s life difficult because they put her cell # on there for us to call.  I’d like to call today to see if there is anything settled yet but hate to bug her because I’m sure her phone is ringing off the hook with concerned parents.  Oh well … I’ll survive 🙂

Merry Christmas!

I was working from home because Diana’s was closed (another long story I won’t get into but please keep her family in your prayers.  She and her husband had a rough couple of weeks).

First thing in the morning she had felt warm to me when I woke her up, but I was rushing to get Maddie to school so I brushed it off as being “pillow cheek” where it was warm from the bed.  She was acting fine all morning – a bit fussier than normal but I assumed it was because I wasn’t giving her my undivided attention since I was working.  She didn’t eat much lunch and took a decent nap.

When she woke up she really felt warm so I took her temp.  101.2.  Hmmm … cold symptoms for going on 3 weeks and now a fever? My 5+ years of Mommy training told me this was going to go downhill fast.  I gave her tylenol and called Dr. Friedman.

I knew before she said it that we needed to be seen.  She referred us to a new dr to the area, Dr. Matt Lopreiato of Berlin Pediatric Associates.  His practice is just getting started so she felt we would get some very good individualized attention. AND he knew Dr. Heller from residency training.  Music to my ears because it meant he wouldn’t “freak” about Olivia’s heart.

Dr. Matt was able to see us at 3:45pm.  I never in my life prayed to hear the words “ear infection” because I knew we’d be spared the trip to the ER.  Alas, it’s never that easy with Olivia, is it?   He told me he wasn’t worried about her heart but more with her lack of spleen. Super infections and all, I guess.

Unfortunately / fortunately, he was unable to find the source of the fever.  He knew I dreaded going to the ER because I was afraid they would admit us unnecessarily but based on the time of day, it was really our only choice to get the services we needed:  a chest xray and bloodwork.  He told me he would call ahead to let them know we were on our way and he would call them hourly to check in on us.  He would not admit us unless they found something in the tests. (whew).

My sister Heidi saved the day by picking up Maddie so Arnie could go directly to the hospital from work to be with us.

Olivia and I arrived around 5pm and there were at least 8 families waiting in the waiting area.  In my mind I’m screaming “GERMS!!!”. I sign us in and have a seat as far away from all the other people as I can.  Within 5 minutes we’re called into Triage.  I explained Olivia’s anatomy and they told me they were aware and our room was being prepared.  They don’t like to leave their cardiac patients in the waiting area (membership has its privileges).

Chest xray came back “perfect minus her heart being on the wrong side”.  Her nurse was able to get her IV started on the first poke! Yahoooooo.  The preliminary blood work results showed normal so she was given penicillin via IV and then they sent us on our way (3.5 hours later).

Monday afternoon Renee Richard from CCMC Drug Trial called to check in on us. I mentioned that we had used the last of the prednisolone on Friday night.  Renee was leaving for vacation but said she would feel better if she knew I had called Dr. Friedman to request a refill to have on hand for Olivia.

I called over to Dr. Friedman’s office and got Gloria on the phone.  I mention that I need a refill and the conversation goes something like this:

Me: Hi Gloria, it’s Tricia, Maddie & Olivia’s mom. How are you?
Gloria: Oh Hi! How are you doing?
Me: (explains about croup episode, requests Dr. F call in another refill.)
Gloria: (long pause) Oh, you don’t know …
Me: (starting to freak out)
Gloria: Dr. Friedman left the practice.
Me: (picture me gasping and jaw hitting the desk).
Gloria: She’s opening another practice locally.  It’s all rumors right now. We haven’t been told anything concrete yet.

She then gave me Dr. Friedman’s cell phone number and said I was allowed to call her on it if I had any questions.

I immediately called the number and talked to Dr. Friedman.  She is opening a new practice and it is likely to be right down the street from us!!!!  She would call in a refill and told me to call her if I had any questions in the meantime.  She’s hoping to have the new practice up and running next month. Whew!  The thought of having to “train” a new doctor on Olivia is something I’d really rather avoid.  We’ve got a great situation with Dr. Friedman and Dr. Heller working so well together.  AND, Dr. Friedman is bringing along her nurses so we don’t have to “train” any nurses either! 🙂

I wasn’t sure I should call Dr. Friedman’s cell during off hours so I emailed Dr. Heller the next day to ask her if I could call the cardiology group in the off chance that we needed to speak with someone off hours in the meantime that Dr. Friedman is in limbo.  She talked with Dr. Friedman and they wanted us to call her on her cell if there’s any issues that arise with Olivia in the meantime.  (insert foreboding music.)