Today I am intensely grateful [might be distressing - child health issues]

Today I spent several hours in a Childrens' Hospital.

Over the past week, there have been three big things with people I love ...

One of my closest friends was recently raced in an ambulance with her 3yo to hospital, because the toddler suddenly and unexpectedly was very ill. Her child isn't coping well being in hospital, has had multiple emergency surgeries, and may need more, and might be there for a very long time. She's hooked up to wires and nasal gastric tube and has regressed significantly. My friend is understandably beside herself.

Another good friend had a planned c-section for her baby at 36 weeks. They knew the baby had a permanent and serious condition, that required emergency surgery and will need further intervention, possibly for the rest of his life. It may be years before they will know the extent of the impact it may have, and there's no knowing when he will be able to come home.

A third good friend became an aunty when her sister had twins by emergency c-section at 35 weeks, due to pre-eclampsia. The three of them are doing well, but the new mumma is pretty sore and shocked still.

I had a recent health scare with DS1, and I also had a really bad birth first time around. Hospitals aren't fun places for me.

But the people in there are just another story. When heading to one of the above friends' rooms, they passed another mother in the hall, who was excited to tell my friend that a certain procedure had gone well, and they'd be moving on soon ... But not going home, just moving to the rehab floor - because the improved situation still involves her little boy being paralysed on one side. There are people there with children going through all manner of issues. There are parents who haven't left the hospital grounds in weeks. There are parents who haven't slept in bed together in months, because they tag team staying with their child. There are parents with other children at home, or with relatives. There are parents who are going through absolute hell, and who have no ide whether their baby is going to be alive next week.

My friend's 3yo was born around the time I found out I was pg with DS1. We're both working on TT at the moment, chatting about the pros and cons of 3yo kinder, and art projects and favourite parks to feed ducks. Now instead of trying to get our kids TT before kinder starts, she's wondering whether the regression of the last week is long term. Whether she'll have to quit her (reasonably new) part time job and stay home with her daughter full time again. Whether kinder is even a possibility any more. How they'll both cope with the multiple times a day she may have to administer injections for the indefinite future. Whether the hospital and specialists' offices will be a permanent part of their weekly fixture from now on. Whether they'll be home by Easter. Whether they'll have a second child.

My friend with the new baby has other kids. I thought long and hard about how I would make sure to give DS1 plenty of attention when DS2 arrived - but that was more about what to do when I was bf, and changing nappies, and breathing in his perfect, perfect baby smell. Not when I'm changing lines and living in the hospital for potentially months, or whatever is involved with raising a child with serious health and/or developmental issues.

So today I'm incredibly grateful for two happy, healthy children. Who aren't in hospital, who aren't facing invasive operations, life threatening conditions, days, weeks or months living in hospital, possible death ... children who, God willing, will live at home with their father and me until they're all grown up, and who will go to kinder in due course, and then school, and play sport and do art and sing and dance and be cheeky monkeys as they should be. Happily, healthily, and at home, in fresh air and sunshine and parks and the beach ...

I am very, very grateful. I kissed my kids a lot when I got home.

My heart goes out to all those parents and children who are in hospitals today ... I hope you're able to go home soon, with your babies in good health.

Ohh what an awful week for you and your friends, I was crying before I read about your friends 3 year old.

I hope all the familes and kids are home together soon with positive recoverys and the shortest possible stay at RCH.

RCH is an amazing place and do such amazing work.

Very glad to have my 2 boys at home to cuddle and love and go as we please to do what ever we want with.

xoxo

So sad. And so grateful. Much love to you, your friends, and all those walking this path. I can't even begin to imagine...

Tears here reading that.. I feel so grateful. I am so sorry for what your friends are going through :hug:

I'm very sorry to hear that. I feel very grateful too for my two kids and husband. I pray that all of your friends children become healthy so they can enjoy a full and pain free life. My heart goes out to them.

Hugs to all of you :) this sort of situations puts life into perspective hey!

=(, I don't have anything else to say.

except we never truly know how lucky we really are.

I really feel for your friend with the 3yo and the one whose baby has spinabifida. Thanks for sharing. I will remember this on days when it gets too much. I wish your friends all the best. :hug:

:hug: I try to imagine how I would feel in situations such as your friends are facing, and just the beginning of those thoughts are soul-crushing and devastating :'( A reality I hope I never ever need to face.
I truly wish for the best possible outcomes for all those you hold dear :hug:

Hugs xox how incredible sad for all your friends I wish all their kids speedy recoveries and I will be holding my babies tight tomorrow.

I'm so sorry to hear what's going on with your friends. It makes me feel a bit guilty for feeling sorry for myself that DD2 could be another couple of weeks in hospital still - at least she's healthy.