Dear Doctor

Dear Medical Professional, You will ask about his medical history, And I will repeat the story I have told 100 times or more, The details fine tuned to the essentials I know you need: He was born full term, He has a 7 year old brother who is fit and well, He is allergic to penicillin.  You will ask me what happened, And I will answer: He is 6 years old. He wasn't breathing for 7 minutes. I gave him mouth to mouth. I will hand over a careful typed piece of A4 paper. It will tell you his hospital number, The things he is allergic to, A list of medications and doses. You will take it and smile. You'll tell me I make your job easier. I will stand calm, And in control.  You see my demeanour, my hospital bags packed and ready, And you say, You've done this before. I'll nod and say many times. But remember this; That 6 year old is my baby. That boy with the oxygen, And the wires, And the tubes, Is my son. I watched him turn bl

Don't Cry, Don't Panic

I don't cry.
I don't panic.
It's a fact I take some pride in.

Don't get me wrong, there's probably not a Disney film on earth I haven't cried at. I cry at songs. I cry at adverts for heaven’s sake.

But when it matters, when I'm needed. I don't cry. And I don't panic.

I sometimes wonder if I cry so much at other things because I've bottled up too many tears. Do all the tears I've kept inside when it's time to be strong spill out during the John Lewis advert? 

But I have to be strong.
So I don't cry.
And I don't panic.

I'll hold his face between my hands and tell him I'm here. I'll pull out the bag and mask, turn on the oxygen and squeeze the life saving air back into his lungs. I'll stroke his hair and I'll tell him it'll be ok.

But I won't cry.
And I won't panic.

The paramedics will arrive and I will tell them the shade of navy blue his face turned and I'll explain how his fingernails went black. I'll list his medications, the strengths, the dosage, the time of day they are given. They'll ask if I'm a nurse and I'll say 'no, but I've done this lots of times before'.

And I won't cry.
And I won't panic.

I'll grab a hospital bag and I'll throw in clothes for us both. I'll take feeds and medications as I know the hospital won't have them. I'll kiss my big boy goodbye, tell him it'll all be ok and take the teddy he wants his little brother to have. 

But I won't cry.
And I won't panic.

I'll carry his limp body, breathing softly, wrapped in a blanket, to the ambulance. I'll listen to the sirens wail and watch the blue lights reflect on the windows of the cars that part to let us through.

And I won't cry.
And I won't panic.

People ask how I do it. And I don't know how. All I know is that I mustn't cry and I mustn't panic.
Not yet.
Not now.
Not when he needs me.

But this time was different.
This time the lump in my throat was so big and so sore I thought I would suffocate. 
I couldn't swallow it down. 
And the tears leaked out.

His life in my hands and I had nearly failed him. 

Under the stark bright lights of the resus room, he lies on the bed, pale but breathing; motionless. The rigours and convulsions of the seizure gone now; this stillness deadly. Monitors beeping, oxygen hissing, the hustle and bustle of the emergency room all feel miles away. I watch his face, take his tiny hand in mine and whisper his name. The faintest of movements as his fingers close gently around mine. He's still there. My boy's still here.

A day later and it's like it never happened. He's happy and smiling and back to himself.

But me? It’s all I can do to stop myself from crying, to stop myself from panicking.  

The memory lurks behind me, a shadow, taunting me with the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘what could have been’. It's the weight on my shoulders, it's the voices in the night.  My heart beats so fast, I struggle to keep up. I hold my breath and have to remind myself to breathe. My jaws ache from teeth clenched too tight. I sit alone in the silent church and light candles. The rivers of tears fall, unabashed.  

I pray it'll never happen again, knowing without a doubt that it's only a matter of time. 

And when it does,
I won't cry,
And I won't panic.


Comments

  1. Emma, you truly are amazing. Your such a strong person, the strongest that I know. You are always there for him, and you never have and never will fail him. I believe things happen for a reason, and you were chosen to be his mum for all of you wonderful qualities, for both of your boys. Always thinking of you all 💙💗💙💗💙.

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  2. Amazing mummy

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  3. The hairs stand up every time I read this, the words get under my skin, bringing back so many memories and emotions. Beautifully written, you're an inspiration xx

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  4. Hit a nerve here x x x beautiful piece x

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