December 12, 2016
You know those idyllic Thanksgiving scenes that dance in your head but never seem to materialize? Here’s mine from this year: My mother-in-law and I are in the kitchen, up to our eyeballs in sweet potatoes and turkey, when we hear my 5-year-old say, “How come Daisy gets candy and I don’t?”
I’m not one of those moms who settles every squabble, so Maddy’s complaint against her sister barely registers — except for the fact that we don’t keep candy in the house. The turkey is about to come out of the oven, but I abandon it to investigate.
When I peer inside the family room, I see things that do not make me feel abundantly grateful. My husband and father-in-law are engrossed in a football game, oblivious to the fact that Maddy and 3-year-old Daisy are playing tug-of-war with their Granny’s purse.
The contents — including an empty pillbox that had been loaded with her daily medications for blood pressure, diabetes and pain — are strewn across the room.
“Girls, you know better than this,” I scold. “Did you swallow any pills?” (Or should I have said candy?)
Daisy gives me a guilty look. “I didn’t eat any candy, Mommy,” she says. “Yes, she did,” Maddy counters.
There are times when I really wish I had a built-in lie detector. I have no idea what to believe, but I do know that a lot of medications can be seriously dangerous for kids.
“Everyone get your shoes on! Thanksgiving is cancelled; we’re going to the hospital,” I bark.
Half of my household freezes as Daisy bursts into tears. My father-in-law disappears into the kitchen and comes back to calmly hand me his cellphone and a magnet from our refrigerator — for poison control.
“They’ll help,” he says. “We had to call them last year.”
My husband assures me that he will get everyone ready while I make the phone call.
The nurse who answers my call knows exactly what to do. She says this sort of thing happens a lot. She has me look in Daisy’s mouth for evidence of the pills and I find nothing.
Next she asks me if we know exactly what medicine was missing. My mother-in-law is down on all fours, collecting all her meds. I didn’t expect her to know what was missing so imagine my surprise when she pulls a medication tracker from her purse that lists exactly what she takes every day, even the milligram strength!
We sort and identify the pills one by one until we realize only one pill was missing — a blood pressure pill.
Unfortunately, the nurse at poison control tells me that some blood pressure medicine is dangerous enough that even one pill can be harmful to kids. Guess which one Granny takes?
The nurse asks me which hospital we’ll be visiting so she can notify them, as Daisy cries for pie.
“We can’t have pie until after you go to the hospital,” I explain.
I turn around to get my own purse and when I turn back around, Daisy throws a slightly slobbery pill at me and asks “Pie now?” It’s the missing pill! It had clearly been licked, but I could even still make out the numbers on it.
I breathe a sigh of relief as the nurse from poison control celebrates with us. At least we can avoid a trip to the emergency room.
My vision of a perfect holiday may be on life support, but it’s still alive — until I smell something burning in the kitchen — the turkey. All I can say is thank goodness for gravy — and for Granny’s careful drug records.
– Frazzled in Franklin
Holiday tips to keep kids safe from medication poisoning
Dear Frazzled in Franklin,
Bravo for hosting Thanksgiving dinner. With two small children under foot, that’s an achievement. When you’re busy entertaining a house full of company, it’s easy for kids to get into things.
We borrowed a few drug safety lessons from Frazzled in Franklin’s holiday experience to help your keep children safe during the holidays.
The Kentucky Poison Control Center answers calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — including holidays! A family gathering interrupted by an emergency is no one’s idea of fun, but we’re always here to make your day better. (800) 222-1222