How Doctors and Nurses Have Helped During Difficult Times
Dealing with stressful situations can be hard for anyone, but I’m especially struggling because my 3-year-old son, Cayden, has been hospitalized since Aug. 5.
In my previous column, I mentioned that he had to be intubated due to pneumonia. This has been very hard on me mentally. And because of COVID-19, we can only have one visitor per day. While it’s nice to get visitors, they are not here all the time.
When Cayden and I are alone, I depend on the doctors and nurses a lot for both help and advice. The best part about this is that they are always here to talk without hesitation. Many of the topics we’ve discussed have been difficult and emotional.
They tried to extubate Cayden on Aug. 9, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to make it very long before he needed to be intubated again. This was very difficult to experience, and I couldn’t help but cry. I simply needed someone to sit with me and be there for me during this tough time.
That’s when a very nice doctor and nurse came in handy. They were both very helpful and supportive with the situation at hand.
Of course, I depend on my family, friends, and Pompe family during these hard times. But it helps to be able to talk to someone that’s physically there, too. As much as these people would love to be here for us physically, too, it’s just not possible right now.
Sometimes it’s hard to open up to someone you don’t really know. But these healthcare workers deal with people in tough situations all the time. Most of them truly are there to help both the patient and the family, and to me, that’s what makes them special.
Developing a support system is important when dealing with a difficult situation. Your support system can include many different people. You can have those who support you for the time being, and others who support you for the long run.
Having that support can make a tremendous difference in how you deal with a situation mentally. It’s important to consider your own mental health when dealing with a hard situation that involves your child.
I am thankful for everyone who’s been here to support us through this hospitalization. Cayden has a long road to recovery, and that’s OK. I know the doctors and nurses will be here to support us through every step, and that’s what matters most!
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