***Warning- This is about a journey of loss.***
Clear skies
The sun risen & at attention
Your giggle sporadically fills the room
You roll and explore
You are my sunshine
The Storm is brewing
Something seems off, just a little
I hold you and you are you, yet not
I feel unsettled
I take you to the emergency room
The clouds roll in quiet and fast
They poke, prod, and test for several things
Confirmation - pneumonia
Confirmation - Rhinovirus
Prepare for admission
Your energy depletes, they wore you out?
Through corridors, up an elevator, onto the unit
1, 2, 3 , 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 people gathered blocking the walk way
They part allowing you to be rolled through on the hospital bed
The shy rumbles angrily
Security is present
All look worried, unsettled
The barrier is clear - what do they want?
1 straightened her shoulders
Short woman with blond hair & glasses
She addresses me - I say nothing
I shift my body in the direction of the security
I turn my head to the blond haired woman
She starts to ramble medical items, none new
The thunder crackled loud and violently
She paused, then continued
Kidney failure
Cardiac failure
Pulmonary failure
I pause
I completely face her, she has my attention
I look at her, ahe looks down at her feet
What did you say?!?!
She froze
The lightning flashed as the thunder crashes
A male stepped towards me
Tall, thin, dark short hair
Your child has multiple organ failure!
Silence filled the corridor
No! I need to see his lab results
They came prepared, they had me a document
Levels were extreme
Some too high
Some too low
I look at the blond hair lady and say, treatment plan?!?!
She lifts her gaze to meet mine
"An ambulance is on the way" is all was said
I look back to the Indian man
"He may need Dialysis, we cannot do it here, we have to transfer him to Children's" he added
I look around at the many faces
I tuck the document in my bag
I walk towards my son through the group
They part
I stand, holding his hand for was seemed like a blinknof time
Ambulance arrive, reports are exchanged
Back through the hall, down the elevator we go
Onto the ambulance
The downpour
Standing in the the hospital room
Looking at the machines, the stats, my child
3 doctos enter
Greeting exchanged
"How long has he had organ failure?"
Today
"What treatment has he had?"
This
"Test does not show these are new diagnosis."
He was diagnosed minutes before being transferred here
I tooknout my phone pulled up the digital medical records and showed the previous lab work
They look at me, then him, then asked about signs & symptoms
None
They leave the room
Standing outside the door I see them talking
The tears release and do not stop for what seems like an eternity
The Storm continues with less rain
Morning rounds occur
Med student - "You don't have to be here"
I refocus on the presenting med student
I listen as everyone rambles off treatment options
I interject and share other options and concerns
Confused the team, they turn to me
"I'm sorry, who are you?" The doctor asked
I look him in the eyes and respond, "How rude of me not to introduce myself. I am the parent of the child you are rounding on. I am the one that will be joining for rounds every morning and will be weighing in on every treatment item you think of. Any other questions?"
The doctor insisted, "We know this is a lot to process and we know you want answers, we are going to all we can for you son."
"I know you will because I will bee here with the team to discuss each step", I responded
The thurnder quiets
Months in the hospital
Dialysis started
6 blood pressure medications started
No clear cause of the organ failure
He is giggling again
The lightening fails to show
Discharged!
He returns to school
He continues dialysis 3-4 days a week
He participates in the Holloween parade at school
Thanks were giving that he made it through the storm
Christmas is approaching
We found matching pajamas for our pictures
The clouds part
On 12/19 the storm ended as abruptly as it started
The sun was high in the sky and so was he
The Storm ended
By M. johnson
