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
0

Tonight We Have Respite

Tonight we have respite. 

And while Hugh is cuddled and cared for by competent nurses, trained in every aspect of his care, Sean gets the undivided attention of his mum and dad . Together. Not one, or the other, while someone deals with Hugh, or feeds, or medications.. Both of us. Together. Just for him. 

On account of a brilliant First Ever parents evening, we took Sean out for a meal - to a local curry house; where they make a fuss of him and bring him sweets and where we'd never be able to get Hugh and his massive chair through the narrow door,up the teeny tiny corridor, round the tightest of corners to the jam-packed restaurant full of tables and chairs and customers. And we ate and we laughed and we ate some more. It was lovely.

And tonight, I can go to bed at whatever time I like (it will be early!) - not at midnight because Hugh has decided (again) that sleep is for losers. I can close my bedroom door without worrying I'll miss an alarm ora pause in breath. I can sleep, without the fear of seizures, or choking on secretions, or his latest trick- sleep apneoas. I won't wake until morning, not having to get up 5 or 10 or 15 times to re-set alarms, do chest physio or put Hugh in the recovery position to aid his breathing.

And Sean won't be woken in the middle of the night by the screech of alarms, or early in the morning by the sound of his brother's crying.

Tonight I didn't have to mix feeds and weigh powder and draw up medication into syringes. I didn't put on creams for eczema, tape sats monitors to tiny kicking toes or switch on the video monitor.

Tonight is a break or us all. 
It is respite. 
A break away from the routine.

Which is good. 
And important. 
And necessary.

And ten miles away, my baby is in a bed, in a room, in a hospice, on his own.

While his family ate and laughed together, a nurse bathed him and put on his pyjamas.

While we sleep, a stranger comforts him in the night.

Respite is good, and necessary and important.

But tonight, before bed, I could only kiss one of my babies goodnight. 
And that doesn't feel so good at all.

Comments

  1. Unknown23 October 2013 at 21:57

    Hugs Emma. You sum it up perfectly. It is important and necessary but its bloody hard and feels so not right xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Little Mama Murphy23 October 2013 at 22:11

      Thanks for commenting Jude. Exactly/ I know it's a 'good thing' but it feels hideous.

      Delete
  2. Unknown23 October 2013 at 21:59

    Hugs Emma. you sum it up so perfectly. Respite is important and necessary but its bloody hard and never feels quite right xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jude23 October 2013 at 22:01

    Hugs Emma. You sum it up so perfectly. Respite is important and necessary but its so bloody hard and feels so wrong :( But it is important and necessary xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michelle Daly24 October 2013 at 07:28

    Your bittersweet post brought tears to my eyes (again!!)but just keep thinking of the memory Sean will have of that special night out with his mummy and daddy. xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Little Mama Murphy24 October 2013 at 09:15

    I know Michelle. And it was a lovely night- Sean really enjoyed it. He misses him too mind you. He even asked if we could take Hugh with us next time! But it is good for him to have that time with us on his own, and its good for Hugh to get used to other people caring for him.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looking for Blue Sky24 October 2013 at 21:16

    I know exactly how you feel - as I read this, Smiley is in respite and I too will be going to bed early, but the house seems very quiet without her xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Little Mama Murphy25 October 2013 at 00:14

    Hope you get a good night's sleep xxx I guess it will probably always feel a bit 'wrong', bt you learn to live with it xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. James' mum25 October 2013 at 00:20

    it is a tough life xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Little Mama Murphy25 October 2013 at 00:26

      That's life though I guess James' mum. There's worse than this and I'm blessed to have him back home again with metonight

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.