Christmas in the Hospital with Sick Kids

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

My children have RSV and pneumonia. The youngest (almost 2) had to be rushed to

ER, low oxygen, etc. It has been a parent's worst nightmare. Then my older boy

(8 yrs) developed atypical pneumonia. The poor little guy had to sit through

the ER thing with us coughing and trying to sleep all night in that little ER

chair. I couldn't even help him because the youngest was critical. Eventually

(the oldest) had a terrible asthmatic coughing fit on our way home one

evening and had to be rushed to the after hours clinic (it was closer than the

ER at that point). I u-turned it on the four-lane road when I realized my boy

couldn't breathe.

After many treatments and medicines, they are both improving. I am in the room

with my little Sam, watching him sleep. Oxygen is at 94%, so we may be going

home tomorrow! I finally found out we have wi-fi in the rooms. It is an

overwhelming feeling of peace to hear him breathing well, knowing is home

with my husband getting rest and plenty of attention too. My husband and I have

been trading off shifts since he got off work for the holidays. Before that, I

had to keep them both in the hospital, even though it's against policy. The

nurses let it slide when I told them no one in my family could help. I said

they couldn't come, but really they just wouldn't.

I would like to thank you all for enlightening me on this whole BPD thing just

in time to make a big difference for our little family. Understanding this BPD

monster has helped me not to get dragged down by those dynamics when my children

need me so badly to be helpful and completely present with them. Your

experiences also helped me to be sensitive to the older boy, realizing that this

could be a very bad memory for him and psychologically damaging (if he felt

ignored when he was so very sick as well).

So we spent Christmas day in the hospital (have been here 8 days). My husband

brought the video camera up and the boys opened gifts from Santa. It was so

sweet it brought tears to our eyes. (the 8 year-old) said he would rather

give back all his toys if Sam could come home for Christmas. I told him that

Christmas is about the Savior's birth and our love as a family. So Christmas

would be wherever we all could be together.

I wanted to talk to you all more than anyone else during this time. The nurses

and doctors have been so kind, and I have managed to mostly avoid FOO. But I

just kept wanting to connect with you. So I am thankful tonight to have my

little netbook in this dark room. Reading your posts here lets me know that I

am not alone. I will never be alone again because you understand me and

actually have the capacity to care.

Sincere Thanks,

Merry Christmas,

and Peace and Healing to You All,

+Coal Miner's Daughter