Just a normal Monday

This day started off like most, usual Mondays...BUSY. Charlotte's dad (Chris) &  I had just gotten home the night before from a business trip to Costa Rica. It was business as usual once all the kiddos were off to school. During our catch-up work, I received a phone call from Charlotte. I didn't answer but I also didn't think anything of it. She would randomly call me to say hi when a teacher wasn't looking. But then a text followed saying, "Mom answer please it's an emergency." So, I immediately called her back and she was frantic saying she had eaten a piece candy and her throat felt like it was closing up. I told her to go to the nurse immediately and her Dad & I rushed up to the school. I spoke to the nurse on phone as my husband drove. The school is about 5 minutes away. The nurse told me she had given Charlotte Benadryl and had her brush her teeth. She told me her lungs sounded okay and she was talking and coherent. I told the nurse her dad would administer her epi-pen. Charlotte was also texting me during my call with the nurse. 

When we arrived at the school, we immediately were sent to the nurse where Charlotte was waiting. After reaching into a bag of candy from a classmate, Charlotte had accidentally mistaken a sweet-tart for a skittle. Sweet-tarts have egg whites in them and Charlotte was allergic to all eggs & their components. After a  minute of talking, Charlotte was given her epi-pen. Immediately she felt relief. We could see her fear diminish and she was so proud of herself. She said her heart was beating a little fast and her injection site felt cold & tingly, but she was all smiles. We asked to sit with the nurse for a bit which we did, and then we took Charlotte home for the day. 

I set Charlotte up a little space on the couch to rest & sleep for the night. She had asked me to take her to 5 Below the next day. She turned Fuller House on the TV and fell asleep. 

Once again, it was business as usual for the Barton crew. The kids were heading off to school. Charlotte was a bit groggy and did contest going to school but it was only for a minute. She wanted to see her friends at school and be able to hang out with her boyfriend later that evening. I did email Charlotte's PE teacher requesting she be allowed to sit out for PE. Charlotte had been texting me throughout the day wanting to make plans for her boyfriend to come hang out. He did end up coming over and the hanging out commenced. 

Charlotte shared a room with her then 14 year old sister, Gracie. Charlotte & Gracie are best friends and often were together when friends came over. I had made dinner but no one was hungry at that time so I saved Charlotte a plate. Her boyfriend had already eaten. It was getting close to the time for Charlotte's boyfriend to leave and so his mom was on the way to pick him up.

Chris & I had just sat down to watch some TV when we heard the nebulizer come on in the living room. We went to see what was happening when Charlotte said, " I CAN'T BREATHE." Chris proceeded to ask her boyfriend what happened when he told us she started to wheeze. We could see Charlotte becoming uncomfortable there was an audience so her dad took her boyfriend to her room while he waited for his mom. I grabbed Charlotte's epi-pen and rushed her to the ER. The ER was 2.3 miles away (we know this because it was a consideration when buying our house).

Charlotte administered the epi-pen herself on the way. Upon arriving, I barely remembered to put my van in PARK, grabbed her and rushed her inside. While I was talking to triage, the staff whisked her to the back. A nice stranger parked my van and left my keys for me at triage.  

Within a few minutes, Chris had arrived and we were taken back to where Charlotte was. What I saw next was a sight that will haunt me for the rest of my life. My sweet girl, laying on a gurney, unconscious with tubes coming out of her mouth and breathing in a way that stopped me in my tracks. The room was spinning, I was spinning. I couldn't believe what was happening. WHAT WAS HAPPENING? 

We had been told that Charlotte suffered cardiac arrest upon arrival. She was resuscitated and would need to be intubated. I had not witnessed this event. Everything seemed like it was happening so fast but also felt as if time was standing still. We were informed that Charlotte would be transferred via TEDDY TRANSPORT to the children's hospital downtown. It took quite a while to stabilize her enough to do the transport. 

Meanwhile, Gracie was texting & calling Chris & I wondering where we all were and what was happening. We had left the house suddenly and with no warning. You see, Gracie had been in the shower. Charlotte's older sister, Skyler, was getting off of work when she saw the TEDDY TRANSPORT speed by with lights & sirens blaring....not having any idea yet that it was for her little sister. 

Once Charlotte was ready to be transferred to the children's hospital, Chris went back to the house to collect some things and talk to our daughters. The girls had to stay home with our little boys (9 & 7) whom were fast asleep. I followed the ambulance & Chris soon met me in the PICU of the children's hospital downtown. Be mindful, our world was crumbling before our eyes in the fastest, scariest & most agonizing way imaginable. 

There were so many people, doctors & nurses, in the room with our Charlotte. Was she going to wake up? Was she going to try to pull out her vent? Would she respond? Was she going to be okay? 

WE. WERE. TERRIFIED. When we got to be with her, it was the hardest sight to see because she had begun to seize. Charlotte's dad began to shake uncontrollably & had to leave the room. We were so very scared & beyond devastated. 

We would remain at Charlotte's bedside for the next 6 days. Half in the PICU, half in the NEURO PICU. A multitude of tests, X-rays, cat scans & MRI's would be done. Meetings with Neurologists, Chaplains & Child Life Specialists. This couldn't be happening. Our baby girl had suffered an anaphylactic reaction that caused hypoxia, which led to cardiac arrest which led to resuscitation, which then led to her going into shock. Her body & mind were unable to wake up or recover and she passed on October 3, 2022 at 5:18 p.m. CST.