Thursday, October 13, 2011

Atmosphere: Walking on Sunshine Away From the Hospital

     I faced my son’s surgical procedure yesterday with a great deal of trepidation. No one looks forward to surgery with a warm and happy feeling inside. I dreaded my son’s procedure even though I knew it had to be done. When my son pressed me about what would happen at the hospital, I simply said that he would go to sleep, and when he woke up he would be all better . What do you say to a 6 year old that won't strike         terror into his small heart?


     We arrived at the hospital and I was amazed to discover a friendly, smiling man eager to take my keys and park my car for me. Free valet parking made me feel like the Queen of England and gave me one less thing to worry about. We walked into the friendliest hospital lobby I have ever encountered free of sick depressed people and harassed staff. We took the elevator to the second floor to where outpatient surgery was located.
A cheery nurse greeted us and told my son she would be taking care of him. Instead of the dreary white or blah blue hospital gown, my son was outfitted with a little peach number dotted with teddy bears and tan slipper socks. Even though I packed a bag of my son’s favorite toys, he was more interested in the coloring pages and crayons the nurse gave him and quickly set to work carefully coloring each picture. Is this the same kid who before kindergarten needed to be bribed to color?? As soon as the pictures were colored and his name had carefully been written on each, he began exploring the buttons on the bed. Up went the top of the bed, down went the foot of the bed amid fits of giggles.


Before long the anesthesiologist arrived. He asked my son if he liked bubble gum. Does a bear $hit in the woods?? I seen my son’s face light up when he explained all he would have to do is inhale bubblegum vapors and then drift off to sleep. I have had my share of surgeries, but no one ever offered me a mask with the tantalizing aroma of bubble gum to inhale making me fall asleep. How cool! Before long the time had come for my son to leave me and go to surgery. I braced myself for the inevitable. Whenever I had surgery, some big, burly guy came and whisked me away bed and all. So it was with happy surprise that I discovered my little boy would be carried to surgery in a little red wagon! He got in, and away he went.

     Instead of returning to the room on a gurney, my baby was carried in and placed gently into his bed. There is nothing more heart wrenching than seeing your child cry in pain. I asked the nurse if I could hold him, and she encouraged me to climb in bed with him. I wasted no time, and soothed my little boy the best I could. With the magic of pain medication, green Jell-O, and sips of Sprite, his tears slowly dried and he focused on cartoons.

      The hospital could have been a scary place. What we discovered was a cheerful and almost fun atmosphere filled with kind caring people who were dedicated to making my son as comfortable in his surroundings as he possibly could be. They took the fear factor out. When the pain kicked in, they were there immediately with pain medications. When my son was crying, they encouraged me to hold him, and when it was time to go home, they had my trusty blazer waiting at the front door when we came downstairs. Instead of doom and gloom, we were walking on sunshine because everything had went well. A big thank you to everyone at Memorial Hospital who made my son’s time there as pleasant of an experience as possible. Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

38 comments:

  1. Wow! What a difference that was from what I would have expected! I'm kind of a surgery-phobe, but if I ever need to have one, I want THAT staff to tend to me. :O)

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  2. By the way, your little guy is adorable and even as they're whisking him away, he looks as though he's off to have fun somewhere. SO cool!

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  3. What a great post! Not only does it make me feel happy inside for you and your baby boy, but anyone out there facing a trip with their child will fee so much relief after reading this!
    Big giant ((((((((HUGS)))))))) to both of you!

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  4. How fantastic - and what wonderful ideas the hospital staff had to keep your son (and you!) happy. Can't help but contrast it with 60+ years ago when I was in hospital for 15 months, and my mother was allowed to visit once a month!

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  5. Word Nerd, it was a lot different from what I expected too. His nurse called today to check to see how he got through the night and how he was doing. He had pain this morning, so I gave him his pain meds and since the doctor said he would be able to go to school, I sent him on his way. I called the school nurse and gave her a heads up in case he needed Tylenol before he got home and sent a note to his teacher. Worried myself sick all day. He was tired when he got home. Laid down on the floor for a little while, had some spagettioes, and was back to his old self. Bless him. Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment.

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  6. thats great I m glad you had a great experience and your lil one was kept happy . sorry though he had to go though that.

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  7. Word Nerd, thank you, he is my precious little man. Thank you for your kind comments. It almost broke my heart when they brought him back because he just cried and kept saying "I hurt so bad!!" Finally they gave him more pain medicine, green jello, and sprite...and he perked up and quieted down a bit. Poor baby. I love that picture of him in the wagon and have it on my desktop! I had to share it. I thought he looked pretty adorable too. :D

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  8. Jo, thank you for stopping by to read and comment. Big giant hugs right back at you. It took me a while today to put it all together and get this post written. Hospital shell shock I think. It could have been a lot more traumatic, and it simply wasn't. The staff were so kind and loving towards my son. They treated him as if he were their own, and it wasn't scary...I was so relieved. I hope other parents are blessed with such a kind hospital staff. We weren't in a special pediatric ward either, it was just plain old out patient surgery. Simply amazing.

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  9. Paula, I know!! Their creativity blew me away!! It was wonderful! Unlike your experience, they recognized that he needed his mommy. They told me as soon as he woke up they would bring him right back to me, and they did. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment.

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  10. Charity, I wish he wouldn't have had to went through it either, but since he did...I am so glad that he had such a good experience. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!!

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  11. I'm falling in love with your little man in that cute red wagon, too.

    Why aren't all hospitals like this? Does it take more time/money? I bet it costs less, because less patient stress = less complications & hospital time.

    I know it sucks, to have a child who needs surgery, but it sounds like he couldn't have been in better hands.

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  12. Beverly, I don't think that it costs more money. I think it depends on the staff. I commented to my son's nurse when she called the day after to check on his progress how impressed I was with the care he received, and how thankful I was that they took the terror out of it and made it seem like an adventure. Everyone was all smiles, and so kind. They even were sweet to my daughter who came with me (she is 11) and made she had a jello too. I wish all hospitals went all out like this, and I am thankful that my son's doctor sent him to this one. I love that picture too. It is so precious. I put it on the desktop of my computer. Thank you for stopping in to read and comment.

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  13. I'm glad things worked out. It's scary to see your child go through surgery…especially at age six.

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2011/10/writers-post-atmosphere.html

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  14. Joyce, thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. It was scary...especially seeing him in so much pain...and crying because of it. Bless him. I am just glad it is behind us and he is on the mend.

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  15. The thought of bringing my baby in for surgery made me cry a little. I'm so happy a traumatizing experience was made easier for all of you with a caring, compassionate team.

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  16. So glad you had such a wonderful experience for what could have been a possible traumatizing situation.

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  17. Goodness, that was the hardest post I ever had to read. Kids, they should never have to cry or go to the hospital. So very happy to read the end knowing it went well.Big hugs to that sweet little guy.

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  18. The Host, thank you for stopping by to read and comment. When my son came back from surgery he was so fussy, and crying it hurts, it hurts. It made both my daughter and me cry. It was awful. Thankfully that didn't last long. Once the nurse came in and gave him medication it got better. The staff really did do everything they could to make it better. They were very compassionate and let us know just what to expect when he came back.

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  19. Angie, it could have went a lot worse. I am so glad it is behind us and he is on the mend. Thank you for stopping in to read and comment.

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  20. Brenda, I agree with you 100% because seeing your baby suffer tears the heart in two. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment.

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  21. So glad you had a positive experience. It's always harder on the mom than the kid. Hope he heals fast!

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  22. Beautiful write Kathy. I love the wagon picture of Jacob. I am so glad that everything went well for him and he was greeted with such a great staff. I know that made it so much easier for the two of you. :)

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  23. Jennifer, you can say that again!! I am just happy it is behind us!! Thank you for stopping in to read and comment!!

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  24. Mary, thank you for stopping in to read and comment! I am relieved that it is behind us and am thankful everything went well!! I love that picture too. I have it on my computer desktop now. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!!

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  25. Arnold Palmer built a children's hospital in Orlando and it is wonderful like your Memorial hospital. Going to the hospital must be very scary for a child. For a hospital & staff to make it almost fun is great. Also, I bet he will remember his stay more for the fun than the pain. You know how fast we forget pain, right? I'm so happy he is doing so well. God bless your children.

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  26. Darlene, thank you for stopping in to read and for your kind comments and blessings. It was wonderful how they went out of their way to take the terror out of the experience. For that I will always be extremely grateful. He continues to improve each day. Now if we can just figure out to pay the bill when it comes. LOL :P

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  27. What a beautiful little boy! And what a lucky Mommy! Isn't it great when things turn out well! I love reading stuff like this! Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Susan, thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. He is so precious to me and I am so relieved everything turned out OK. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!

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  29. I never knew there were hospitals like that who would do so much to make a child's experience less frightening and more fun. What a great place! Such a positive atmosphere that helped your son and you get through the experience of his surgery without the terrible fear that most kids experience. I spent a bit of time in hospitals as a kid and wish my experiences had been as fun. Thanks for sharing, Kathy.

    Cathy

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  30. I was amazed and pleasantly surprised myself. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!

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  31. First of all--your son is ADORABLE!! And I love to hear about good things hospitals do for people--kids especially. I'm glad they made it as friendly as an experience as possible for him.

    Oh --and I have given you an award!!
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com/2011/10/tell-me-about-yourself.html to pick it up!!

    Cheers, Jenn.

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  32. I'm so glad it turned out to be a good experience. And what a cutie your little guy is!

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  33. How is he doing? I am assuming all is well..

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  34. Glad it all went well for you and your little man. Over the course of a month my little boy had to stay in three of the local hospitals (ruptured appendix...surgeries...complications...) anyway, one of the three was like this, it felt safe and fun, what a HUGE difference that makes, for all involved.

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  35. Jenn, thank you for stopping by to read and comment. Thank you so much for the award!! I am honored!

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  36. Langley, thank you! Me too! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment!

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  37. Brenda, He is still complaining he hurts a bit, but on the most part he is doing really well. Thank your for stopping by to ask!

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  38. Sylvia, Me too. How horrible for you and your little boy!! It does make a big difference when the staff try to make a hospital stay as pleasant as possible. I hope your little guy is OK now! Thanks for stopping in to read and comment!

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