A week ago, my 13 yr. old son Declan came home from a trip and wasn’t feeling well, the next day there was fever and coughing followed by a trip to the pediatrician who put him on Amoxicillin and bed rest. After several days with limited improvement we brought him back to the pediatrician, I guess it was Thursday afternoon, which led us to the Emergency Room at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, two nights in the Pediatric Intensive Care followed by one night in a regular room.
It is now Sunday and my boy is home, completely on the mend, therefore, his Mom and I couldn’t be happier over his fast recovery.
After 19 years of parenthood with three rough and tumble boys, this was my first overnight experience (truly blessed) at Children’s and I couldn’t have been happier with the experience. The emergency room staff and nurses were amazing, handling injured and hurting children while still comforting and explaining every detail to the parents who were just as afraid as the children. The technology used was top notch and was made especially for children, whereby I watched as the special intravenous ultrasound team was called in to assist with placing my son’s IV.
About 11:30 p.m. I hit the late-night cafeteria as I hadn’t eaten dinner with all the excitement and my son’s emergency room nurse came over to me during her down time to ask how I was doing. I said I was fine but honestly, I was more worried about her. That fact was confirmed when from the next table over I heard her tell her husband that she had been running from one case to another non-stop for four plus hours and that this was the reason why sometimes after a difficult night she has a hard time getting to sleep when she finally gets back home. Her team's service was impeccable as far as I was concerned, she just had a lot on her plate, and she juggled it wonderfully with skill, love, and compassion.
The next several days were a blur with antibiotics, breathing treatments, oxygen and respiratory gizmos to speed his healing. There was peeing in a cup for the boy because he had enough wires on his chest to jump-start a car but the chocolate milkshakes for dessert for lunch and dinner made up for the minor inconveniences. When my son was finally moved into a normal room, we were able to have visitors where there were epic battles of Super Smash Brothers Bawl happening on the bed (Switch Gaming System) while the parents chatted on the couch over current events happening within our daily lives. During one parental conversation, we looked out the window and noticed there was a helipad without a helicopter. Unfortunately, much later that evening I can confirm that I witnessed an emergency helicopter land and it just made me worried for the occupant, the family, as well as the emergency room staff and all others that were about to be involved.
By day three the security guards at the front desk seemed to know me as I was wearing an Orange wristband (it identifies the person as a parent of a sick child) they always smiled and made me feel welcome, even walking around at odd hours. Knowing that my son was on the mend and was going to be going home, made me extremely thankful for our health. When I saw another orange wristband walking towards me, it made me want to comfort them, to nod or smile, to hold that elevator for them a little longer then I usually would for another human being because I know that they might be going through something much larger and more difficult than my short stay, watching my son whom I knew would be just fine. Some of those Orange wristband parents are not so blessed.
Long story short, I’ve spent the last three days in a small room bonding with my son while he received top-notch care. I told corny Dad jokes in order to make him laugh and cough which would assist in clearing his lungs. The nurses, doctors and respiratory specialists were all great, the facilities were wonderful, and I hope I never have to return.
If I ever do, I’m just very thankful Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta with their skillful and caring staff is just down the road.
So elated John for you and your wonderful family that all is better now. And yes, we are so lucky in Dunwoody to be so close to some of the most skilled and professional health care in the nation. God bless!
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