First trip to hospital - Christmas Day 2006

For a couple of weeks before Christmas 2006, Ciara complained now and then of sore legs while we were out for walks. She had a cough and cold mid December, her temperature was going up now and then, she was pretty gloomy and off her food. This all cleared up easily enough and she seemed fine. However she didn't want to go to playgroup and would kick up a serious fuss whenever she went, enough to cause the playgroup organisers to call my wife, Yvonne, asking her what to do. I'd even sent an email to my older sister asking for advice on getting Ciara to playgroup without her causing a major scene.

On Christmas Eve, 2006, Ciara started to limp and was visibly in pain. By Christmas Day, she could hardly walk. She was such a sweetheart though, sitting in bed saying "this is the best Christmas ever!" after finding a cheap plastic dinosaur in her stocking. At that point she thought that was all she was getting but was as happy as anything. We decided to let Ciara have her Christmas morning before heading off to the 24 hour County doctor to get her checked out.

The doctor thought it may be something called Perthe's disease, a rareish ailment affecting kids, and advised us to go to A&E, Portlaoise for her to be looked at. Ciara was admitted for observation after a few hours in the A&E waiting room.

The following day, St. Stephen's Day, after an X-Ray and Ultrasound she was diagnosed as having Irritable Hip, or Toxic Synovitus. This is common enough really and often affects kids who've had a cold or flu. The treatment is rest, relaxation, TV, chocolate, that kind of thing. She was kept under observation for a bit as she was getting a temperature now and then. Ciara was allowed home the following Friday, 29th December 2006.

She wasn't at home very long though...