Follow the green line, past the blue lifts, to the North building, and through the double doors. Take the pink lifts to the second floor and turn right. After that, take the pink lifts down to the ground floor, past the blue lifts then turn to your left….
Walking through the halls of the Royal Children’s Hospital I am always struck by this amazing sense of good fortune.
Sure it is kinda crappy that we have to go there in the first place. A bit horrible that the girls are traumatised by allergy tests and then blood tests…. but waiting in pathology for their turn it struck me.
It is so much more horrible to see so many children so used to having blood taken that they greet the path nurses by name, with a smile and a joke. It is so much more crappy that these children, many younger than the girls, are so used to having blood taken that they don’t make a sound, not a whimper or a tear…
We’ve had our fair share of horrible with the girls… but they are here, they are happy and they are healthy. Sure they have a bit of asthma and some annoying allergies… but they cried when they had their blood taken, and for that I am so incredibly grateful.
Oh I so know what you mean, Jordan has been in and out of hospital a bit, especially when he was between 3 and 6. It got to the point that the nurses on the ward did recognise us! But there were children on the ward that never left in the gap between our visits, so heartbreaking!
Continual hospitalisation of children does affect them in so many ways – I saw a few when visiting my nephew when he was very small.
It is amazing the resilience and coping mechanisms.
In absolute agreement and gratitude… My little guy is starting speech classes at the local children’s hospital. I am so thankful that this is the only reason I have to take him there. I walk past so many families and children and it seems as if the pain is almost palpable. It does make me appreciate what I have even while it saddens my heart for them.
-Abby
*nods* I know what you mean too
Ivy never cries anymore but I cry enough for her.
Hugs, I still appreciate how well we have it when I go Westmead kids.
not only are we lucky to not need the care of a hospital often or ever, we are also so blessed to have a hospital to take our children to….