A Florida mother experienced a terrifying health scare when her 2-year-old son, Ethan, woke up gasping for air just two hours after being put to bed. Klaudia Dunn, along with her husband Bryce and their son, had spent a festive day decorating their home for Christmas before following their usual bedtime routine. At approximately 19:00 on September 30, 2023, they gave Ethan a bath and tucked him in, but they could not have anticipated the distress that would soon follow.
At 21:05, Ethan awoke in a panic. “He woke up gasping for air,” Dunn recounted in an interview with Newsweek. Alarmed, her husband immediately called for emergency assistance. As they rushed to the hospital, Dunn’s mind raced with concern. Initially, the parents suspected an allergic reaction, as they had never seen a case of croup develop so suddenly.
Croup is a viral illness characterized by swelling in the upper airway, which can narrow the breathing passages in young children. It is often recognized by a distinctive barking cough and stridor, a high-pitched sound that indicates inflammation in the airway. Ethan exhibited several classic symptoms in rapid succession: congestion, a barking cough, a sudden fever, and stridor.
Once at the emergency room, the medical team acted swiftly. Ethan received ibuprofen, steroids (specifically, prednisolone), and a breathing treatment with albuterol. Within about 20 minutes, he began to show signs of improvement. Tests for common viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat all returned negative, eliminating these typical causes of his symptoms.
Dunn left the hospital with a prescription for a week’s worth of steroids and instructions for ongoing care. Despite the frightening events of the evening, she reported that Ethan was quickly back to his usual self. “He started to feel a lot better on day three,” Dunn noted.
The situation also raised concerns for Dunn regarding her younger son, Grayson, who is just 5 months old. She documented the rapid progression of Ethan’s illness in a TikTok video, which has since garnered over 2.3 million views and prompted numerous comments from parents sharing similar experiences.
One viewer commented, “Had to call the ambulance who rushed my at the time 1-year-old to the ER with croup that was so bad he was turning purple. It’s terrifying and not talked about enough.” Another parent added, “My baby got croup twice. I hated seeing [them] this way.”
In her post, Dunn emphasized the importance of vigilance in children’s health, stating, “Something that is small for you can be extremely dangerous for them.” This cautionary message resonates with many parents who may overlook seemingly minor symptoms in their children.
The Dunn family’s experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of childhood illnesses and the importance of responsive care when health emergencies arise.
