Making the Most of Hospitalization

By Justine C. Tajonera

Last Sept. 15, Badger accidentally ingested nail polish remover. I only knew because he started vomiting. It was one of my worst moments as a parent. I felt like a headless chicken, all panicky and disoriented. It's a good thing Vier is always so clear headed and calm. He asked me to call our pedia who immediately advised us to get him to the ER. The doctor in the ER called up the Poison Control Center and recommended that we admit him for observation.

We had him admitted. The worst part, for me, was the whole dextrose process because he wasn't allowed to drink or eat for 24 hours. The nurses had to stick needles into both his hands because Badger was violently fighting them off. It was so painful to hold Badger while he begged us to take off the needle and the tube.

Badger was finally released the following day, Sept. 16. Here are some things that I observed that helped me and Vier make the most of Badger's hospitalization:

1. Always keep a calm disposition. Even though your blood pressure is rising because it's the nth time that the nurse is finding your child's vein. I realized that it would help no one if I scolded or got angry. I made sure that I did not react emotionally to anything that the hospital staff was doing but rather, rationally. Also, don't waste beating yourself up over what happened. What happened happened. And then move forward.

2. Take advantage of a tag team. I realized that I was able to cope better because Vier and I made sure to get all the help we needed so that neither of us were harassed. I would attend to the Philhealth papers while Vier accompanied Badger to the hospital room. I would take care of the paper work at the cashier while Vier talked to the ER resident.

3. Be assertive and get full explanations for any recommendations. Just because the hospital is recommending something, it doesn't mean that we have to take everything hook, line and sinker. We talked to both our pediatrician and the assigned doctor. We decided to go with the initial recommendation to admit him overnight but when the doctor advised us that we needed to keep him in the hospital for another 24 hours, we disagreed. He had already stabilized and he was suffering more from the IV than from his stomach. So, we signed a waiver, got instructions for his diet and bought his follow-up medicine.

4. Be firm but compassionate with your child. As parents, we knew that he had to be admitted. No matter how hard he fought it, we had to help the nurses insert the IV into his vein. Badger was so angry, confused and frustrated. All I could do was show him how much I loved him. I would hug him and try to divert his attention from his constant requests to take off the IV. We would read him stories, tell him jokes, sing to him, play games with him and surprise him with inexpensive toys (like the gag glasses in the picture).

As parents, there will always be the possibility that our children will be admitted to the hospital. To help cope with this situation, I would recommend: always keeping calm, taking advantage of a tag team with your partner or family members, asserting your right as parents and getting full explanations for all recommendations and being firm but loving and compassionate with your child during such a trying time.

See my poem about Badger's hospitalization: Pinprick