I'm the father of two- a 5-year old boy and a 10-month old girl. Today Jack, my son, saved my wife's life.I was at work and I got a call from my wife's phone. I missed the first call because I was talking to my coworker, but she called back immediately and I was able to pick up. My wife said, "Help me," like she often does when she calls to let me know how the morning is doing because the kids can drive her crazy."What's going on?" I said, like usual.Her response was indecipherable and I realized there was something actually wrong this time. To confirm I said, "Honey, do you actually need help?" in an urgent tone. "Say yes or no."A garbled, "Yes," was the response."I'm on my way."I immediately clocked out and ran out the door while telling my coworker that I needed to go as fast as I could.When I got home (~15 minutes later) I found my wife was laying on the floor half out of our downstairs bathroom, barely able to speak, in a lot of pain in her abdomen and chest. She was sweating, her breathing was difficult, and her arms were numb. Jack popped out to surprise me like he usually does when I get home, but I was short with him as I assessed the situation and took charge.I called 911 and they dispatched an ambulance quickly. While I was waiting I discovered that my mother-in-law (MIL) was already on her way from difficult communication with my wife and checking her recent calls. When the squad got there (~5 minutes due to proximity to the local fire station in a well-funded neighborhood) they took charge and got her initially assessed and on a gurney and out the door.I held my daughter, who was freaking out, and waited for my MIL to show up with my sister-in-law. Fortunately they arrived just after the ambulance left and I left as quick as I could to follow the ambulance to the hospital.To make a long diagnostic process in the ER short, they discovered that she had an ectopic pregnancy caused by the tubal (tied tubes) she had when our daughter was born last year via C-section. There was also almost two liters of blood that had leaked into her abdomen from it.They were able to do laproscopic surgery to remove the fallopian tubes (both removed entirely, just to prevent this in the future) and she is now okay though on pain killers with limited mobility and lifting for the next couple weeks.While I was waiting at the hospital with my MIL, whom my wife requested come, my brothers and their wives showed up to help with kids and make the house as easy as reasonably possible. After we got back everyone was fed (mac-n-cheese and hot dogs brought by my brothers) and Jack was having fun with his cousin (girl) watching Moana while my daughter was being passed around the family to keep her chill while her world was somewhat turned upside down from usual.After my wife went to bed my family got together with me and organized help over the next couple weeks for when I'm at work/backup for whoever is on-duty.Only later did I learn that it was my son, a 5-year old who probably has ADD or ADHD (getting tested on Friday), who kept his composure and used mommy's phone to call me and his nana (my MIL). He kept his composure and kept his sister calm while they waited for me. He kept his composure while his mommy was laying helpless on the floor, unable to talk or move. He kept it well enough to still want to surprise me when I came home. He saved my wife's life today by keeping his cool and calling me and my MIL.I apologized to him profusely tonight for yelling at him earlier and told him how proud I was of him for helping mommy. I told him that he did an amazing job of being the man of the house when we needed him to.I just wanted to share how good of a job he did and I hope you all have similar luck if the worst sorts of things should happen. I don't even know how much credit my wife and I should take for this. I know we did something right, but he did plenty of right on his own today. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2pHqtot
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