[Carters Mom]

I've read thread after thread and comment after comment about reverse sneezing and still was not prepared when Carter had a prolonged attack this morning.

Until this morning, he had never had a single reverse sneeze.

We just returned last night from saying "so long" (instead of goodbye) to my Marine son that is heading for the Syrian border in Iraq. This was the first time that Carter flew in an airplane.

When my daughter took Carter and Cooper out to potty at 6 AM this morning, she brought Carter to me and told me he started doing "this" while outside.

This attack seemed to last forever. It was similar to an asthma attack, I guess. The sound was awful. His mouth was closed and he seemed to have trouble breathing. 15 minutes into his attack, I finally called his vet and miraculously, the attack stopped as soon as she answered her phone.

Carter's vet said that the soft palette "flips" and until it rights itself, the attack will continue. She gave me a tip though in case it ever happens again -- she said to try to get him to lick water off your fingers to make him swallow and that should end the attack. She also said that because of the dry cabin air from the plane that it could have helped to spur this attack.

What a way to begin the morning. With all the emotions we're dealing with after visiting my son this weekend, my furbaby almost scared me to death. I was really afraid I was going to lose Carter this morning. I'm praying that the next 12 months will be uneventful for all of my children -- my skin children and furbabies.