I saw a very sick child recently at one of the children’s Emergency Rooms I work in. At only 9 months of age the child has had a brain tumor removed as well as multiple surgeries involving a VP shunt.
The kid was there for increased vomiting and fussiness. As the physician talked with the parents I noticed something different in the way they acted compared to most parents in the ER.
I mentioned this to one of the nurses. We talked about how parents who have had a lot of hospital experience have a different demeanor. They answer questions more quickly and succinctly- they have heard them all before. They ask fewer questions- they already know the answers.
The nurse also mentioned something that I hadn’t identified when I was in the room but I recognize now. The parents also had a sense of detachment relating to their child. Why? I have no idea. Were they already creating distance from their child who probably had a poor prognosis? Were they just tired from this exhausting ordeal?
Impossible to know. But I do know the whole thing was very sad and I feel for those parents. They’ve been through hell.
