Errol Milner Clifford 2006-2009

Errol Milner Clifford was born with a significant heart defect and a cognitive disability that prevented him from walking or talking. As we grieved the child we had anticipated, Errol’s full-bodied smile and irrepressible laugh turned our sorrow into joy, and taught us that many of the best things in life are unexpected. Inspired by Errol’s delightful spirit, friends, family, and neighbors rallied to support our family’s significant emotional, physical, and financial needs, through countless acts of selfless generosity. When Errol’s courageous heart finally failed him on December 23, 2009 we were left numb with grief. In these dark hours we listen hopefully for the echoes of Errol’s brilliant laugh. This blog is the story (starting from present and working back to Errol's birth) of the life and times of the amazing Errol Clifford.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Pass the Penguin


The day after our long date at the emergency room, Errol and I headed back to his pediatrician who, by then, had gotten the results of his labs and slides. Errol has pneumonia.

So the doctor has prescribed antibiotics, fluids, sleep, and twenty minutes a day with the penguin nebulizer.

We had been terrified that Errol’s lethargy, vomiting, low sats, and general ennui was a product of a structural problem with his heart, and we are celebrating that it’s just pneumonia!

This is something like pneumonia #7 for Errol, and we are just far enough out of this latest crisis to see the big pattern emerging: a boy with chronic sickness. This is more like a marathon than a sprint, and there is no finish line.

So we won’t hurry. And tonight we are happy where we are. The penguin is firing on all four cylinders, the meds are kicking in, and Errol is feeling (and looking) a hundred times better! Penguin anyone?

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)