A Warm Blanket : Parents
Please note that the
following represent each family's individual experiences
and beliefs. Every family is different, and the needs and
feelings of the children involved will be unique. We
encourage you to seek professional advice if you have
concerns or questions with regard to these issues. Responses
to Family Room
| My daughter
recently had a coarctation repair. They did many
things at her hospital that qualify as a warm
blanket. Before
surgery, most kids there receive a dose of Versed
to "calm" them. Katie doesn't like the
feeling Versed gives her, and asked not to
receive any. I wasn't sure about this, but I let
her choice prevail. I know that this hospital
knew that giving Katie the power to make a
decision like this would make her feel more
important. She actually was the most calm of all
of us, and walked into the OR by herself (she's 8
years old).
My friend is an RN at this
hospital. She was one big warm blanket.
Several times during the surgery, she called the
OR to get and give us updates. She went up to the
OR to pick her up after surgery, and let us walk
along with them to the ICU. She even came in the
next day, on her day off, to be with Katie when
some of her lines were to be pulled, and helped
to get her up in the chair, etc.
This hospital gives the parents
pretty much unlimited visiting in the CTICU. I'm
a nurse myself, and I know that its easier to get
the job done without family around. We were able
to stay with Katie the whole time, and I know
that she did better because of it.
C.D.
|
| After reading the
questions, I had to really envision what a "warm
blanket" meant to me..... To me, it
symbolizes the very essence of security, warmth,
and a feeling of safety. My son had coarc repair
at a hospital in Boston. The pedi cardiac unit
used a doll to explain all the tubes and machines
Johnny would be hooked up to. They were sensitive
to his fears,and tried to be with ours. I feel
that if they had a 'network' of parents that we
could talk to, maybe we wouldn't have been as
terrified as we were or uncertain as we are now
in what lies ahead for our son.
K. D.
|
| My son is 15 and he has had
3 open heart surgeries, 2 pacemeker implant
surgeries, 3 valvuloplasties and, of course,
endless examinations, echos etc. His doctors have
been extremely kind and, more importantly, have
brought him back to us each time he goes into
surgery or the cath lab. Furthermore, they have
been the pioneers in techniques that have helped
him enormously (particularly valvuloplasties). Nevertheless,
I believe that MUCH more could be done to reach
out to the grieving and scared families,
children, and parents that are dealing with
illness. I recommend that a social worker or
psycholgist be involved with treatment and meet
with the children and the families. If doctors
and nurses find talking about feelings difficult,
ok, they should not do it, but qualified people
should be around and very available to speak with
patients and their parents, both during hospital
stays and after.
Also, teaching hospitals are great, but too
many doctors asking questions and poking around
can be very overwhelming. Finally, I understand
that hoospitals need to be careful about
lawsuits, but do children going into heart
surgery really need to hear that one of the side
effects of the surgery could be death?
Z.L.
|
| A warm blanket sounds wonderful!
Ask what comforts a patient and provide that comfort
before, during, or after the procedure. Have a doctor who is
accessible to questions. Give families and patients counseling
services in the hospital before during and after procedures.
Give age appropriate comforts to patients and family. Give
children tours of the hospital before the treatment takes
place. Ask or survey parents and patients on how they are
handling the problems and ask them what they need.
K.K.
|
Current Topic:
Parents Page 1
Parents Page 2
Parents Page 3
Parents Page 4
Parents
Page 5
Parents
Page 6
Adults and Teens Page 1
Adults and Teens Page 2
Health Professionals
Return to Family Room home page
|
