Because of my cancer treatments and transfusions, infections and blood checks, we were pretty confident in hospitals.
Mum sometimes fell asleep with a thermometer in her hands!
We'd been driving around with a packed hospital bag in the car.
We went into auto pilot when a hospital stay was needed.
(Luckily, we have needed far fewer hospital stays, and the bag has been unpacked!)
The year after my cancer treatments, we were in hospital... a lot.
And, they pack their bags.
When I was having chemotherapy treatments, we went straight to the Children's Ward and were admitted immediately, because of a heightened risk of me developing infections.
Now, we get sent to Emergency.
Because I am usually having breathing issues, we get sent to the kid's section of the Emergency Department. We're usually there for at least six hours before a decision will be made about whether I will be admitted.
We're very grateful to the two ladies who get Mum a drink and sandwich.
On the ward, we can settle in.
If it's pneumonia, we feel prepared. We hate the cannula. My veins are thin and damaged, from countless needles. Putting cannulas in makes me scream and I rarely cry. We hate this part.
Once the antibiotics start, we know we'll be ok.
I have had two bouts of aspiration pneumonia. That's when you swallow something in to your lungs. It needs different antibiotics. The second time, we knew what it was. It was frustrating because Mum and Dad told the doctor it was aspiration pneumonia, but he didn't listen and treated me for the wrong thing. That meant we were in hospital a lot longer.
The second time, I developed aspiration pneumonia because I swallowed saliva when I was picked up at night. Now, if anyone moves me in the night, they do it very carefully!
Another time, I was helicoptered to Sydney. I was on morphine and strapped in tightly, so Dad was able to enjoy the views. Mum had been in the Emergency Room with me, and I was very sick, for about seven hours. That had been a scary visit, because it was different and we didn't know what was happening. She hadn't eaten and hadn't been able to go to the toilet because she didn't want to leave me. When they flew me away, we thought I would need surgery on my bowel, but luckily, it fixed itself.
Luckily, I outgrew that! Having cerebral palsy and not being great at chewing, eggs are the easiest thing to use to hold foods together. That egg allergy sure made things difficult, for a while.
For a while there, Mum would send the family a photo, showing me back in the Emergency Room.
Aunty Carol developed a bit of a fear at receiving photo messages. She was sure it would be a hospital photo!
Mum has had a few people ask her whether she is medically trained, because she understands the terminology and the procedures. She's not trained... Just experienced.
Unfortunately, hospitals will be something we will continue to be familiar with. I'm scheduled to go back for day surgery, to remove the pins from my femur, next month. Pneumonia is something we expect I will develop every year.
Hip Surgery Needed
Hurting Hips
We Nearly Lost Him
Pneumococcus
Dexter and Hospital
Hamish and Hospital
Hospitals – Need ‘em, Hate ‘em
Thank a Paramedic Day
About the Sisters
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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