Today was a good day in the ward.. except for the part where we were practically starving and watching the clock for lunch time to arrive... and the ever prevalent topic of the attention seeking PIG.
Made friends with more children =) They're a real cute bunch. My cubicle has a few sad cases though. One has hydrocephalus (an enlargement of the head due to the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid). This little boy's braving the odds everyday. He presents with all the significant clinical manifestations of what the condition brings (ie. sunsetting eyes, abnormally large head circumference). He's barely 4 months old. Treatment includes tapping of the fluid every few days and he's fed via an orogastric tube. He used to have a VP shunt to drain the excessive CSF (from the ventricle of the brain to the peritoneum cavity), but that was removed because it was suspected to be the source of infection due to a persistant fever. Remember that whatever the treatment, this child can never be cured. Treatment is symptomatic - it only alleviates the discomfort. There is no known cure for hydrocephalus.
Another child in the same room has a tracheostomy in situ. Imagine breathing through a hole in your throat. He lies in bed sedated all day and has to have supplementary oxygen. Secretions aplenty, every little breath he takes every effort his frail body can muster. Add a history of epilepsy and asthma... you get the bleak picture.
Neither can speak. Neither can move very much. Both are hooked up to machines to monitor their vital signs. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Paed nursing is definately not for me. I can't imagine myself working in that kind of environment for long. It's simply depressing. Even with the bright smiles and tiny grasps of little hands, i'd very much prefer the older crowd. Simply because i feel that the life has come full circle. At least they've had the chance to live. These little ones have barely started theirs. But avoidance doesn't mean its not there... i know.
I've never been hospitalized. Never even had chicken pox - and i sure hope it stays that way. Bt some are not that lucky. So i'm thankful for my life. I have more then i need, while others struggle with every heartbeat.
So, reflect when you begin to complain. Never take life for granted. And if you're contemplating suicide or think that your life sucks... Look at the people fighting with courage for their life.
I call them my everyday HEROs.
