BEFORE

AFTER

Diaries of a Four Year Old Outpatient

Poor J. He went in with such enthusiasm. He excitedly told everyone about the cool Mac truck and presents he was getting and just thought this was the neatest experience EVER. I had brought along several presents that had been mailed to him (thanks Nina, Papa and Jen) and his friend Ethan's mom who worked there even dropped off some Cars cars for him to play with. This kid was stoked.

I did attempt to prep him a little bit but I had recently read an article that said kids who are nervous or stressed out about an operation tend to recover more slowly and experience more pain during healing. So I was trying to walk that thin line of giving him a little bit so not to blind side him but keeping the logistics to myself.

All was well in J world until an hour later when the nurse asked him to remove his clothes and don a blue star themed hospital gown with red fuzzy socks. Oh. Heck. No.

He freaked. It took about 20 minutes to get him to cooperate and by that time the moment was gone. The happy mood was over. It reminded me of little L when she was going in for her major surgery and we were allowed to walk her to the operating room doors and a scrub nurse whisked her away while she smiled so sweetly at us - having no idea what was coming.

I found him later by the sound of the pathetic crying (I felt a little bad for the adults who were in beds lying next to him, he wasn't in the pediatric wing) as the anesthesia wore off. The IV was freaking him out and as soon as that was out - he was able to relax once again. Almost enjoying his cartoons and ice water and the ride in the wheelchair seemed fun although he was very stern in telling the nurse that "this was a bad, bad place and he never wanted to come back ever again." I laughed and she took it a bit personally.

He's doing great now. Lots of cartoons and ice cream at home and he hasn't complained once about the pain. Thanks all for the phone calls and emails asking about him, offers to babysit L, cards and gifts. We even had a postman from another district drive over to our house to deliver a handmade card that J's old class made because they wanted it to get to him today and he wanted to make sure it was personally delivered.

I know it was a simple procedure - but it is always good to know you are loved and he/we have certainly felt that. It was a lesson for me to make the next child feel important like J did today - even in the little stuff.