Friday, August 3, 2012

ER Trip

We have had a couple of frustrating days. On Wednesday, a mosquito bite on Hannah's cheek looked infected and had red streaks coming from it. Her doctor said that it could be a staph infection and that since it was on her face we should come on to the emergency room at Egleston. By the time we got up there it was late and we were all tired. It ended up taking six hours for them to do a CBC test (a simple blood test that should have taken five minutes). Part of the problem was that they had a new nurse access Hannah's port. She didn't do it right - they couldn't draw blood from it and it was hurting Hannah so something was wrong with it. They had to take it out and re-do it. This all happened around 3:00 a.m., so Hannah was good and grouchy by then. She got so upset that they gave her some Versed to calm her down. Anyone who knows Hannah knows that she is a very spirited and lively child with a great sense of humor. (She acts just like her Daddy!) She had all of the nurses and us cracking up at the way she was acting on the Versed. She was hillarious and eating up all of the attention. But then the Versed wore off and there was no more funny, entertaining Hannah. By the time we were admitted to a room it was 6:30 a.m. and none of us had slept for the entire night. Needless to say Hannah was not very happy about this whole experience!

First thing in the morning on Thursday the doctors decided that she was fine and would be discharged. We thought we would probably get out around lunch time. Yes, we are still inexperienced in the ways of hospitals. We didn't get out of there until 5:00. Then we had to spend the night and be back this morning for her chemo treatment because they couldn't work it in to do it while she was admitted.

She did really well considering the long hours we had to wait and sit in small, confined rooms. She is getting more and more comfortable going to the hospital and with the things they do to her there. She loves her regular nurses and has fun with them each week. She had the last treatment of her second phase today and we even get the week off next week! She is still on oral chemo, but this should truly be a break for her.

4 comments:

Meg said...

This really puts my feeling "tired" into perspective.

So sorry the new nurse was so new, but I'm glad the infection was not major.

Unknown said...

I am so sorry you guys are having to endure this. I spent many nights on the floor of an er with just a sheet. I know they are busy but it just seems like it takes an eternity to get things done. We are still praying for Hannah daily and my heart aches to think of her being so young and having to endure things that I, myself, as an adult would never want to endure. Their strength definitely comes from God. We love yall!

Unknown said...

I am so sorry you guys are having to go through this. I spent many nights sleeping on the floor of an ER. I realize they are busy but it is so crazy that they cant get things done faster. Please know that Hannah is in our prayers daily!It breaks my heart that she is so young and having to endure all of this when I, myself don't think I could. These kids surely get their strength from God!

Dania said...

Hi Merrie Beth,
I'm so sorry your family and Hannah are going through this. I really can't imagine how difficult it must be. Maybe you'll feel like talking sometime. Take care, Dania