I had been struggling with infections in each of my feet. I have not been in the hospital with either of these infections and am on antibiotics. Late last week I started running a low grade fever. Fevers are one of the real danger signs when it comes to fevers. So as soon as it 100 I was going to go into the hospital. I was also watching for red streaks and other danger signs.
On Saturday I was worried enough that I talked to my wife about her calling in to work and taking me to the hospital. Eventually we decided that that was not necessary. It was latter that night that my oldest daughter accendently hurt her arm and had to be flown to a trauma center. My wife and I found a babysitter on no notice and went down to the hospital. I had a lot on my mind. I wanted to do everything I could do for my daughter and be there to support my wife I had to make sure my own needs were met.
As a husband and a father you want to put your own needs in the back seat, but I had to avoid the urge to do that. The stress of the experience alone could have been enough to send my infection out of control and me back to the hospital.
So before I left I made sure I brought all of my neccisary medications. The3n when I woke up in the morning and tried to take my medication, I noticed I had grabbed the wrong bottle and did not have the antibiotic that my body needed so desperately to fight off the infection. That worried me quite a bit. We went the hour back home to get the medication. We didn't want to leave our daughter but I couldn't risk getting any worse. The pains that I experience in my ankle and knee when I have an infection were present and worsening I could not afford to miss that antibiotic so we left my daughter for a couple of hours.
The last thing my family need3ed was me in the hospital with the possibility of losing my other big toe. It can be so tough for us fathers to realize sometimes, but we need understand. Some times the best way to take care of our families, is to take care of our own needs first so we will be their to take care of their needs as well.