It's The Little Things That Make The Biggest Difference!

Before I start with this blog I want everyone to know that my baby and I are both completely healthy!!  I never want to scare anyone or cause any worry.  But, I had to share this PERSONAL experience with the community to really shed light on how incredible of a city we are living in!!!  Before proceeding I, again, want to let you know that my blog will be containing health information about myself. 

The afternoon of Wednesday June 29th was going just like any other normal day.  Kendall and I had just returned home from our "Little Sprouts" gardening class and I was beginning to prepare her lunch.  But being just shy of 30 weeks pregnant my bladder seems to be calling the shots these days. While Kendall sat in her high chair snacking on puffs, I ran to the potty really quickly. 

What happened next is something I had always prayed I would never have to experience with pregnancy.  I was bleeding!  Shear panic flooded over me!  I immediately grabbed the phone and called my husband at work.  Hysterical I screamed through the phone "GET HOME NOW!!!" My panic began to intensify when I couldn't reach my Dad or my younger brother to come to the house to watch Kendall.  After a couple failed attempts my Dad answered the phone...within seconds both my Dad and Brother arrived at my house. 

My very own words from my previous blog ran through my mind " sometimes as parents we turn off our own emotions for our children," there was no way I could do that. Although, I felt terrible that my daughter was seeing me so incredibly scared. 

During my pregnancy with Kendall I had never experienced this and the only knowledge that I had was that "spotting" was normal, but this was not spotting. Although, I was trying to remain positive my efforts were failing miserably and my mind was going a million miles an hour thinking horrible thoughts. 

Not two minutes after my Dad and Brother showed up I just so happen to look out my front door.  The first face that I saw was Jeff Cox.  Although it truly doesn't make much sense because I have grown up around the TFD and they are my family, since my experience with the delivery of my daughter I have great anxiety when it comes to my health.  Not knowing what was going on with me, and knowing that I was about to be transported via ambulance seemed like more than I could handle at that very second, and let me say I was a MESS!!!!  (Thankfully my baby brother being the great uncle that he is had Kendall completely preoccupied) 

Jeff immediately knelt down in front of me and began to try to console me and ask me what was happening.  The calmness that he kept was so beyond appreciated.  In my panic I very adamantly refused to get onto the stretcher or even get into the ambulance for that matter.  But with such patience they all took care of me and continued to promise me that it was going to be ok. 

Once in the back of the ambulance Jeff told me that he would need to start an IV on me.  This made me horribly nervous because I am by far the worst person to start an IV on.  Every time I need my blood work drawn it's very difficult for the person to ever find my veins.  I had mentioned this to Jeff and again with such calmness and confidence he explained to me that he would take care of it.

To my complete shock he had it started on his first attempt and we were on our way!  At this point I began to somewhat calm down....possibly because I had exhausted myself with all the crying, and panicing over my daughter Kendall and my unborn daughter Harper, that I literally had no more left in me. 

A firefighter named Bakos at this point of our ride started reassuring me that my blood pressure was good, and that things like this happen, and that once we got to the hospital he would not leave me until my Dad or husband arrived.  He also started telling funny stories of watching my brother and I growing up.  They also started telling the ride along student about what I had experienced with the delivery of my daughter.  This truly warmed my heart. 

Not only does it warm my heart because I know how much these guys care about me and my family, but most importantly because every time someone tells my story it spreads awareness.  The condition that I had with Kendall is so incredibly rare that it is very rarely ever spoken of.  Just by that one conversation that ride along student became intrigued and wanted to learn more about it.  THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE!! 

The ride in the back of an ambulance is very nerve racking!  Every single bump you feel!!  With every bump and with every turn Jeff would put his hand on my shoulder.  A small gesture that goes a very long way in a situation like that!  And also something that he did not have to do, but a gesture that truly showed his character as a person.

By the time that we had reached Wyandotte Hospital Jeff had me cutting up and laughing.  I never feared being "dropped off" or left alone, the guys took me straight up to the OB where I was examined and by the GRACE OF GOD we found out that the bleeding was caused by a cyst which had ruptured, we were also told this is extremely common in pregnancy and nothing to be worried about!! 

I would have to say that from the time the crew picked me up until the time my husband took me back home 3 hours had elasped.  In that amount of time another Trenton Firefighter, Rick Bennedetti, came to see me in my room to make sure that everything was ok, and each of the guys who had brought me in including the student had all wished me the very best and told me that they would be thinking about me.

As a Trenton Resident it makes me incredibly proud!  It makes me so proud of my father, Fire Chief Bruce Vick, of having such an amazing group of people in his department.  It gives me such peace of mind that in times of emergency our city's public safety goes far beyond what is considered their "job." 

Although my situation turned out great during those minutes of such panic and uncertainty, firefighter Jeff Cox truly portrayed a perfect example of what Trenton is all about.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart Jeff and cannot express how grateful I am that you are part of my "second family!"