It’s About the One in the Bed…
Hospitals. The anxiety, the flashbacks memories, the scary, the bittersweet, the unknown, the peace, the comfort… What comes to mind when you think, hospital?
I’ve gone to the ER myself and been admitted. Respiratory, GI, kidney stones, kidney infections, food poison. I do everything possible to avoid going to the hospital. Not because it’s a bad place, it just stirs up past experiences of being really sick, and in the case of food poison, going in and out consciousness.
I’ve had the honor of being a part of all four of my grandparents “care plans.” All of which included hospital stays. The fight of a grandchild for a grandparent… let’s just say, don’t stand in my way!
One of my conflicting, heart pounding, get “stuck in my head” conversations with myself, has always been this: “I don’t really want to be here. I’d rather be at home, in my own bed. But I don’t want to leave, because I know the nurses and doctors are right outside my door. The IVs and meds are helping. But I keep setting off the alarms! What if I get home and don’t know what to do?” And this is when I start saying, out loud, “Jesus, (deep breath) Jesus, (deep breath) Jesus!” His name is full of power!
Actually funny side story: when I had food poison and they came to do admission/intake paperwork, they asked my religion. I was so incredibly weak, I won’t get graphic, but I had nothing left in my body! My response, the only thing I could get out was, “Jesus!”
The reality is that you have either been in the hospital yourself, or you have visited/or stayed with someone in the hospital. And I am writing today, because four years ago, I was laying in a hospital bed beside my little one. I had asked for her not to be discharged until we could get it set up for Kids Path to meet us as we got home. And the children’s’ hospice and palliative team made that happen, I am forever grateful for their wonderful work! I was soaking up every single minute. I also had lost all hearing in my left ear- because of an ear infection – so I really was just soaking her in – forehead to forehead. (not to mention I have awesome family that would take turns rocking her 😊)
But there were many things that come to mind when I think back on these days, kind things that people just did, and they will always be so close to my heart! And I would like to share them, because I am a big believer in learning from all experiences, and I have found that actually a lot of people in the same situation, appreciate these acts of love. So here are just a few:
- PRAYER! Always first! For everyone- the patient, the advocates, the caregivers, the nurses, the doctors, the lab techs, the radiology techs, maintenance staff, so many people are involved! Wisdom, discernment, peace, patience, firmness, advocacy, clarity…
- Find out if there are restaurants within the hospital or close by, and get a gift card. (If the restaurant is in the hospital make sure they take gift cards) Or take a roll of quarters or some dollars for vending machines. Recently I found out about www.hospitalgiftshop.com there are many hospitals on this website that offer gift baskets, balloons and such, but the best thing they offer (I think) is gift cards to the gift shops within the hospital. Then whoever is staying can get what they need, which is not always food, sometimes you need soap, or toothbrush, or crayons 😊 If the hospital you are looking for is not on this website, just go to the hospital’s website, and look for “Patients & Visitors,” and they usually have all this information there!
- Basket of Favorite snacks, candy, water, and drinks! This was given to me and my family more than once! In the hospital, at hospice home, such a good thing in the middle of the night especially!
- Happy colorful pillowcases. Colorful blankets- swaddle or toddler size. Just enough to bring color and a warm feeling to the room.
- Think things that you wouldn’t want to nag the nurses for, since you want their attention on the patient. Kleenex, throw away utensils, cups, etc.
- Artwork and pictures! And some tape 😊 One of the most cherished times during my little Lucy’s hospital stay, was Child Life brought coloring pages and markers for my niece, nephew, and little cousins to color and hang on the wall. It made Lucy happy, it made me, my mom and dad happy, and I still have them! They will forever be cherished!
I don’t know what your experience has been with hospitals, hospice or palliative care, or medical situations in general. However, I do know we all have our own experiences that trigger anxiety, comfort, fear, and peace. I also know that if we neglect to learn and pass on the lessons of what we have gleaned from our experiences, we are doing an injustice to the world and those around us.
