To warn you all about the dangers of Foxgloves?

[Outfoxgloved]

Yes. I am unreasonable for sticking this in AIBU. Yes I'm fully aware that it's not at all unreasonable to warn someone about something dangerous.

Yes I'm also aware this post outs me, and so that's why I've name changed.

I'm hoping it's not against the rules to share a blog here? If it is, feel free to delete :) I shall take it like a woman.

Some of you may know the other me on here (since you know the story) please don't out me!

The story of what happened to DD2 last year

see I know foxgloves are poisonous.
I know that digitalis comes form them

I am a gardener and aware etc etc.

But until I read Esmes story I ad no idea that eating a leaf could kill you. It is just so much more poisonous than I had realised or imagined.

So glad you have the all clear for Esme.

And brilliant blog.

xx

Bronglais is our local hospital too. The thought of driving to UHW via a route that doesn't leave you too far from a hospital is quite something.

DD has complex health needs, and in her earlier years, when we lived down south, we too were very familiar with PICU, the cardiac ward and the parents' accommodation at UHW. It took us a long time to make the decision to relocate to W Wales, because of the move away from this services. Although DD is much more stable now, if they ever do close Bronglais, I think we'd seriously consider moving back, which would make me very sad as we want this to be our home.

(Is this thread going to out all the Aberystwyth people?!)

Bloody hell my parents had a labernum tree in our front garden and another in the back garden. Our neighbour asked if they would cut it down but they said no. My brother and I were toddlers. Luckily we survived as did my kids when we rented the house from them a few years ago. The new owners (who have 3 young kids) immediately cut it down when they bought it last year. My mum drove past and was upset about her lovely tree being butchered. I love my parents but they are so stupid and pigheaded sometimes! They knew it was poisonous. I didn't realise how much so!

and I hadn't even got started on toadstools....

I think it comes from growing up in a rural environment as a child, we picked up a lot of background knowledge about plants and what was safe
I kind of like to give him the explanation as otherwise the whole walk to school would just be 'don't touch that! put that down!' and it makes me feel a bit better knowing he and his little friends aren't picking the sweet pea pods from the churchyard any more to make pretend meals....

but it is so hard when they are little and its hard to watch them every minute

I'm so glad your daughter is OK.
I do know the dangers of all the British poisonous plants (there are so many that people just don't know about) as a keen amateur plantswoman and mother and think your blog post should be shared as much as possible for all parents to see.

It'll out everyone in Aberystwyth except me :o due to my cunning name changing

It's a scary thought, the hospital closing. Terrifying.

There is no other hospital.

Titsy I don't how accurate the poster was, but still pretty scary. I also think they are ugly.

Also, can I just thank you for these two paragraphs?

"I have so much respect and admiration for all the families we met in hospital. Those whose children would be back there, again and again. They’re not special people. They don’t have a special reserve that the rest of us don’t have to deal with the horror that is having an ill child. They take from themselves. They use energy they don’t have. They just keep going because they love their child and will do anything for them.

I only got a glimpse of what they live. They are so incredible for doing what they do I cannot find the words. Sometimes I think it’s easier to pretend that they are more saintly, they are “better”, they have something we don’t have, because then we don’t have to think about their struggles as much. By putting them on a pedestal, we don’t appreciate the effort and stress that they go through. We don’t appreciate how hard their “normal” is. And we should. We should notice it. If we noticed it more, things like Respite Care wouldn’t be cut the way they have been."

Thanks for sharing - I'm a country bumpkin but had no idea.

Freezer, you are more than welcome

I will never know how people do that. It is special, just not in the way you might think it's special IYSWIM.

Thank you for this. I knew the flowers were poisonous but had not thought anyone would eat them, let alone eat the leaves.

So important for children to be aware.

Thank you, you may have saved a life by writing your experiences.

I didn't know about foxgloves. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad that your DD is OK.

What a well written warning. So glad your little girl was treated so well and is back with her family. I understand a little of what you went through. My daughter and niece had meningitis. My niece was in hospital for about six months. The first three weeks were touch and go minute by minute monitoring with a doctor caring for her 24 hrs a day. My daughter wasn't quite so ill as I recognised the symptoms and got her to hospital within a few hours of her beginning to be unwell. They were not ill at the same time. You are almost in a daze with short periods of normality. It was weird to go and have a meal in the cafe with other people knowing you were going back to a roller coaster ride of emotions. Hugs for you and your family.

I knew they were poisonous, but I had no idea they were so deadly. Thank you so much for posting this, I'm glad your little girl was okay.

I'm so glad your little girl is okay.

Can I add in Ragwort to the warnings list? www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=299

It's vile stuff, can cause liver damage (or even failure) in humans if you handle (or eat) enough of it.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has a page on its website with details of potentially harmful garden plants. The list is worryingly long.

Just wanted to say what a fantastic article op. It's great to hear that she's well now too.

Thank you, I had no idea about foxgloves.

You write very well. My daughter had open heart surgery as a baby, and your story really captured that feeling of waiting, helpless, watching machines. I also remember the bickering!

I'm so glad it had a happy ending.

I had no idea either. So pleased your daughter made a full recovery and thank you for the warning.

Thank you all. And thank you to those of you who've shared your own experiences too. That feeling of helplessness is indescribable.

I am staggered that there are a lot of people who don't know that foxgloves are poisonous. I thought everyone knew.

When DD was starting to toddle around the garden I pulled out all of the poisonous plants. We had a lot of aquilegia and they had to go. Although DD wasn't in the habit of putting leaves in her mouth you can't be too careful.

This is a useful site.

It was only when telling people in person that I started to realise that this is one of those things that you don't necessarily learn in school. My parents have always pointed out the poisonous plants to us growing up. Not everyone's parents do, or know themselves.

Thank you for sharing this as I would have had no idea! I am so glad that your daughter made a full recovery.