(Muski – specially for Tiff!)
My Grateful Friday post is an easy one to write this week.
Yesterday we visited to Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. The Twinadoes had skin scratch tests done to find out what they are allergic to and how severely they react. The tests went well, they confirmed what we already suspected; that they are allergic to grasses and pollens, and cats. They also showed that they are allergic to a range of nuts. All of the results came back as quite severe reactions, that, combined with their history of asthma flare-ups and the fact that they really haven’t ever eaten a nut means that we are erring on the side of caution and assuming that the nut allergy could be severe and life threatening. So we are now a double epi pen family – or at least we will be after Easter when I can go down to the chemist and order them.
Now while this isn’t great news, it is not terrible news either. We don’t expect to ever have to use the epi-pens and thankfully their nut allergy is not severe enough to make me worry about the possibility of them ingesting even a minute trace of nuts. This is much more of a ‘better to be safe than sorry’ scenario and I am glad that we have had the chance to find out now and work through a plan of action with the specialists.
So what in all of that am I grateful for? Well that’s easy…
I am grateful for the fact that there is a specialist children’s hospital in Melbourne and that we are able to access expert medical care at little or no cost to us. This is not our first visit to RCH (we’ve been to the ER several times with allergic reactions and asthma attacks, as well as the dental clinic, ER and day stay surgery for when Zoe’s teeth were taken out. We’ve also visited for assessments as part of two research projects the girls are part of) and I’m pretty sure it won’t be our last visit either. I am thankful to know that when we them, the lovely Drs and Nurses and specialists will always be there to help.
A visit to RCH always reminds me to be grateful for my children’s health too. The problems that have taken us to hospital have been so minor in comparison with what so many children and their parents face there every day. We are lucky enough to all walk out of there together and I am thankful for that more than anything else.
What are you grateful for this week?
Remember – There are no ‘rules’. It doesn’t matter if you post on Friday, Saturday or any other day. It doesn’t matter if you do it every week, or just every now and then. Post a photo, a word, a sentence or an essay. Just post about something you are grateful for and sign up to the linky!
Awww….and I thought MY kids had blue eyes!!! How stunning. You do well to find all the positives in that.
Speaking as someone who doesn’t have a local doctor right now (meaning our hospital doesn’t either), we took having one WAY too much for granted. :( It’s awful when your kid can’t breathe and you can’t find a doctor closer than 200km away.
Having to use an epi-pen though – that freaks me out! Our friends child is deadly allergic to nuts, eggs and dairy products. It’s so hard on them.
I didn’t do so well on the thankful part of this though did I??? :/
Look at those gorgeous blue eyes! What a cutie.
I’m sorry to hear about the girls’ allergies, but as you say at least they are not at the severe end of the spectrum. And I completely know what you mean about being grateful for a good close kids’ hospital. I’ve recently been feeling frustrated by not having such easy access to doctors and hospitals I feel completely comfortable with and that’s one of things I’m looking forward to when we go home. We’ve had countless visits to PMH (Children’s hospital in Perth) for Guerita’s feet and every time I am reminded that her treatment is very minor compared to what so many kids and parents are dealing with. And I’m always amazed that for all the plasters, operations, splints and check-ups it has cost us a total of $0!
I had major surgery at the RCH when I was about six years old, and spent many days and nights there both in recovery, and to go for overnighters and check ups over my childhood years.
As well as feeling for the mums and dads who have sick children there, I still get a grateful feeling whenever I visit as I know they do great work there.
Gorgeous pic! And I’m glad you got some answers.
Yay, there he is!
Gorgeous little man.
Understand the good and the bad of all of that news. Hugs.
Beautiful blue eyes :)
He is looking so grown up when did that happen?
*hugs* re:allergy testing/results,
“A visit to RCH always reminds me to be grateful for my children’s health too. The problems that have taken us to hospital have been so minor in comparison with what so many children and their parents face there every day. We are lucky enough to all walk out of there together and I am thankful for that more than anything else” couldn’t have said it better myself.
Hope the allergies don’t cause any problems and the epi pens will always be ready should you need them.
Muski is so adorable – those eyes are going to win a lot more hearts.