Wednesday 16 December 2009

Dear parents of children who are not mine

I'm sorry your child has had to be in hospital. And I'm really sorry they've had to have an operation. I know how hard that is on them and on you. I'm also sorry that we disturbed your sleep last night. But you know what? I'm not sorry the nurses didn't listen to you. You see, that noise you were complaining about was my daughter's sats monitor alarming to warn the nurses she was getting insufficient oxygen. That really loud insistent bleep? That was when she was going rather blue. I know it's loud - it's supposed to be. It's designed to make a nurse come running, which is what they were doing. I'm also not sorry that their first priority was to help my daughter, not necessarily to shut off the alarm. Your suggestion that they turn it down so it didn't wake you up could have killed my daughter. Was your night's sleep really that important?

The trouble with being in hospital is that you do unfortunately sometimes come across children who are really quite poorly. this is a hospital, not a hotel. The NHS buys you peace of mind, not peaceful sleep. I'm quite tired too as it happens; I was rather busy trying to help my child breathe for much of the night. But I'm not complaining about that; I'm just glad she's breathing more easily today. If you can't be glad about that, how about settling for being glad you were merely inconvenienced by this rather than having to live it.

We've moved wards now. The vindictive part of me hope the next occupant of our spot is louder and in more distress. But since that sort of hope tends to land us with grouchy toddlers for roommates, I'll settle for hoping your daughter is well enough to go home soon. Incidentally, your complaints about the lack of facilities for parents on that ward? I'll agree with you there. But I've moved wards now, and there's a parents' shower just opposite. So instead of writing in to moan, I'm off to wsh my hair.

Goodnight, sweet dreams.
Tia

9 comments:

HennHouse said...

Oh, Tia. How are things today? How are you holding up? I'll be praying!

Doorless said...

I have been out all day and sorry to hear that people are so unreasonable. I do hope Mog is turning the corner and getting better so you will not have to deal with this anymore.
((((HUGS)))

weavers&whatnot said...

So you're still in hospital. So sorry. We'll keep praying for Mog and the rest of you too. LF is such a sweet little big sister (sometimes anyway!) Lots of love. V&C

Riven said...

hope Mog is better soon and back home. People do tut. Celyn was rushed in sunday fitting and someone complained when she was taken straight into resus.
Rise above it all :-)

Order and Chaos said...

Sad to hear that Mog is still in hospital. My thoughts and prayers are with her and with you all. Get better soon Mog.

Banjaholic said...

Yes, I concur with the above! Get better soon Mog and roll on Christmas!

Elinor said...

It says Harry but it should be me. Must get that boy to sign out...

Take care.

In Monkey's Shadow said...

Hope Mog's feeling better, you have nicer neighbours and you get home v soon. x

kitchu said...

good for you then. i often get very frustrated (i am a nurse) when i receive patients who think they are staying at the Hilton instead of a hospital.

and on a more important note, i'm so glad those alarms were there to save your little girl.

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