** THANK YOU all so much. I have the best online friends and support group from this site. I can’t tell you how much each comment and email did to boost me out of my funk. Ya’ll are amazing.
After taking Peyton’s temperature eleventy-million times on Friday, she finally hit the hospital stay lottery number of 101. Once upon a time, a fever of 101 meant that we’d be going inpatient to stay for at least 72 hours while waiting on blood cultures to be ran. Now it means a trip to the ER for blood to be drawn, a dose of antibiotics and heading home if her CBC is still good.
The call to the doctor confirmed that we would have to be hospital bound, preparing a suitcase just in case, but with the chance of getting to just go home. AMAZING! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve stayed for our 3 days with no fever, no symptoms and nothing to do but watch Disney and order room service.
It should have been a simple trip to the ER, but this week has been doomed to be a nonstop suffer-fest for Peyton. Getting her port accessed is nothing for this child, she barely flinches and it’s such a normal event that she doesn’t even really dread it anymore. I couldn’t count the number of times she’s had a needle stuck in her chest. It’s no big deal.
However, I have a feeling that’s all been changed.
Friday night’s nurse managed to screw it up for all of us. Peyton, me, the nurses at the clinic that have to access her port on a regular basis…we all get to take a swing at her for what she did to my girl.
First attempt: I watch her like a hawk as she fumbles around with all of her equipment, then she goes in for the stab and Peyton screams. This is not normal. Nurse proceeds to wiggle the needle around….Peyton screams some more. She realizes that she missed the port completely and has just been wiggling the needle around in Peyton’s chest. I have to suppress urge to claw out her eyeballs.
I get Peyton calmed down and prepared for a second attempt. She is scared now, convinced the nurse will hurt her again. Yeah. I feel it too.
Second attempt: The nurse goes in for another poke and I feel Peyton go stiff as a board just before she starts screaming again. Nurse says something like, “wow, is she always like this?” I say something like, “No, just when you do it wrong.” Get ugly look from nurse. Really don’t care. An attempt to flush saline through the line is unsuccessful, more screaming begins in the form of, “IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS!” Every ounce of blood in my body has begun to boil and nurse realizes that she has screwed up again.
It is at this point that I stick my hand out as the nurse moves in to start wiggling the port and I get all MOTHER OF THE BEAST on this woman.
“You had your turn. You get a nurse down from 2 Southwest (which is the oncology wing) to do this port correctly or I’m doing it myself.”
She tries to argue, she TRIES to blame it on Peyton….I TRY not to raise my voice as I explain that she comes near my kid with another needle and I will take her out with nothing more than the sheer force of my wrath.
We wait for an hour with the second needle still in her chest when someone from the IV team comes in to see what the problem is. He takes one look at the needle, feels it for a couple of seconds and then rolls his eyes.
“This must come out. We will do again, the right way.” I wanted to hug the little man. Peyton wanted him dead because she realized that he was going to touch her port again. Now she starts screaming before he even touches her…he hadn’t even rolled his cart into the room yet….and she’s hollering her head off.
Getting her to hold still so that we could get the second attempt needle out was an adventure. I had to practically sit on her to hold her down so that IV dude could prep and clean the area. When the needle came out for a third time, and Peyton saw it…well…my ears are still ringing.
One clean poke, an easy blood return, done.
After all the screaming was done, Peyton had received a bunny toy from IV dude and I had thanked him profusely, he left with his magic cart and Peyton sighed in relief.
Because I pissed off the nurse, we couldn’t get a drink for Peyton…we couldn’t get a pillow…we couldn’t get a movie…I had to go to the doctor and ask for a blanket. When he gave me the “I wear a white coat” look, I explained that our nurse had made us very unhappy, in return I made her very unhappy and now I couldn’t get her to assist in the most basic of needs. Perhaps I verbalized it in a slightly different way, but those were the main points.
Two minutes later, a new nurse showed up with a blanket, a pillow and a stack of movies to choose from.
You don’t mess with my kid.
After the blood culture was taken, the CBC was sent for and all was quiet, we waited. And we waited some more. And stiiiiiill waiting at 3:00 AM. Did I fail to mention that we got there at 8 PM? Something that should have taken all of 30 minutes at max, had now become an 8 hour event. Peyton was asleep, worn out from her painful experience with the port Nazi.
A report of good blood counts, a stack of discharge papers and a quick goodbye found us on the road back home.
We rolled into bed at 5 AM.
This has definitely been a two-bottle-of-wine week.
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Wow. You’re amazing. I love how you advocate for Peyton.
And even if this week is a 3 bottle of wine week, that’s okay 🙂 Next week, will be better.
Nicoles last blog post..On the Canadian Electoral System Parte the Seconde: Party Time or WTH is a Minority Government and Why Does it Matter?
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Yes. Next week will be better, my friend. And that nurse better hope she never has to work on anyone who reads you, cause I’m ready to rip her to shreds myself! Bless little Peyton’s heart!!
Christis last blog post..30 books in 30 days
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Poor little bird… I would have FREAKED OUT. I can’t even imagine. Sometimes I wonder how protective-parents avoid getting physical with inept people who are hurting their children. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this.
I’m faxing you wine.
Marias last blog post..smell ya later
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I can not even imagine! Poor baby! I probably would have killed that woman! I had to get ugly with a nurse that was trying to take blood from my son. I gave her two tries and then told her to get someone else.
There are so many wonderful nurses out there….it stinks when you get a bad one!
Queen of the Mayhems last blog post..The Many Shades of Junior Mayhem
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I think you deserve a CASE of wine!
Queen of the Mayhems last blog post..The Many Shades of Junior Mayhem
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I’m sorry Peyton (and you) had such a crappy week. I really hope next week is better.
I am making a list of all the ass I am going to kick if I ever come to Florida.
on Sep 6th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Good for you! If you won’t stand up for your child, who will? GOOD FOR YOU! I remember when we went in for 1 of Joey’s scans and they always had to get blood, and he was a tiny baby, but if you get a competent nurse, they can still get it from his arm fairly easily. I had been in once for bloodwork when we were brand new at all this and this idiot tries to squeeze blood from his heel to fill up 3 vials of blood drop by drop all the while squeezing his little heel while he screams his head off – and I had all 3 of the other kids with me because I was expecting it to take a few minutes like it had before. Well, anyway, back to the scan day, when the nurses show up to get blood and they put this little warmer on his heel and I just look at Steve all big-eyed and dreadful and he was like, “What are we doing here?” and they were like, “we are going to take blood” and he was like, “Um, no you’re not doing it like that.” And they were all offended and trying to explain that he was so little, blah, blah, blah, and Steve was like, we’re not doing this, you can go get someone in here who can get it from his arm or you can forget about getting his blood. It was a wee bit awkward, but I’m so glad he did that. These kids go through enough without having to suffer more because of the incompetence of hospital staff. I know most of them are great, and I’m not picky, just give me a great one every time, and I’m happy! At least send the imcompetent ones to work on adults who you can reason with for crying out loud! Anyway, I’m sorry y’all had such a rough night, but I’m glad you got to get home eventually, and I’ll pray that all goes well!
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience in the ACH ER. I am a volunteer down there when I am home from school, and I must ask, who was the nurse that you had so much trouble with? I know all the doctors and nurses in that Emergency Center and I’ve never seen any of them act like that. Now I feel bad, my normal night for the past 3 years has been Friday nights, and I would be in there until around 10 or 11pm. Now I am back at school, so unfortunately can’t volunteer in St. Pete while I am here. I wish I could have helped you had a better EC experience. I send my love to you and Peyton.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 1:15 am
1st, you get to have pity parties if you want to. Any family member, especially a mother, of a cancer patient gets to have one. I think it’s in the rule book or something. 2nd, you are a much better mother than I am b/c I would’ve hit the nurse, warnings be damned. 3rd, how dare any nurse not come help you just b/c you pissed off one nurse, who in ANYONE’S mind rightly deserved it! Ay yay yay yay yi. I am just sitting here in disbelief at the crap that some people do to others.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Wow… I definitely want to send some “zzzzs” your way! What a supermom you are! Can’t believe the trouble you had under such sensitive circumstances. I look forward to following you and Peyton’s journeys. What a beautiful child.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I would normally defend a nurse because they do such a difficult job, but it certainly sounds like she was doing the wrong thing. Anyone can make a mistake, but she should have admitted it and apologized and certainly not stopped you from having blankets and drinks…even if she was angry with you for being in her face, that’s not the child’s fault! Maybe you should make a complaint if you really feel she was unprofessional.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I am definitely calling you next time I need someone to stick up for me. You’re awesome. And I’m with Marie: a professional (in any industry) doesn’t withhold basic service because they don’t get along for whatever reason with the customer. Especially when a child is involved: seriously!
xoxo
Melisas last blog post..Better Than Television
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Good for you for sticking up for Peyton, I seriosuly cheered in my chair when you stood up to her! What a horrible health care worker!
Brittanys last blog post..I think I am on a boat….of doom.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Anissa and Peyton,
So Sorry this has been a horrible week. Praying this week will be better.
Ang
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I do hope your week is better. Thank you for giving me perspective on my own.
inthefastlanes last blog post..And Sunday is a Day of Rest
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
No words. Just tears and many hugs to both of you.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am
What an ordeal! Oh my goodness. I’m proud of you for not just tackling that nurse.
Kylas last blog post..For your next self-pitying engagement, might I suggest the World’s Tiniest Violins?
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
~BIG HUG~ for you and Peyton. It sounds so rough. She’s a strong one, she must get that from her mommy! 😉
Sending pixellated love from Canada….
Double Agent Girls last blog post..Climb
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I’m with Marie. When you get your EC Satisfaction survey, make sure you write down who was the problem and exactly what they did. Then the hospital will have it on record. You guys are so strong, I admire how well you take all these mountains that God throws in your path. I always tell myself that God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I’m praying that you have a better week this week.
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
You are a better woman than me…I would have B*#@^-slapped her!! She must be related to the nurse who insisted I get up at 3am after just giving birth earlier in the evening, so I could take a shower…seriously- 3 AM!!! Make sure to get her name so and tell the nursing administrator that this nurse is NEVER to touch your child AGAIN!! They’ll do that…seriously!!
Enjoy that wine!!!!
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Was this done in the ER? The first and only time a nurse from the ER accessed Liem’s port, she could’t get it right either, but when she de-accessed him, she practically ripped it out of his chest and the needle cut his skin almost a quarter of an inch long, all the way down to his port. Turned out, the needle was bent when she accessed him. So much blood! Worst thing is that he needed to be re-accessed up in 2 south… that was a scream fest too. I’m SO SORRY Peyton had to go through that. Warning to all parents: DON’T get accessed in the ER!
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
what a night! I’m so sorry that Peyton had to endure an incompetent nurse. You know, I understand that nurses and doctors have to practice on someone, but it should NOT be on children. I mean, we’ve all been there I’m sure. When I went in to have my son, the nurse took , no joke, EIGHT tries to get the I.V. into me. The thing is, though, that I’m an adult, and I can handle it. Children should never have people that don’t know what they’re doing.
Glad ya’ll are home!!!
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Dear Peyton,
You don’t know me.
But I know about you through Penny, Nikki’s mom.
I think about you and pray for you every day.
I am sorry for what you went through with the needle poke. I am praying that the next one will be easier.
I am sendning you a big hug.
Dan Cohen
North Miami Beach, FL
danco1968@hotmail.com
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
You are so awesome for sticking up for your daughter!
One time at the hospital there was a phlebotomist that was drawing blood on my son Evan who was recovering from a surgery, so his veins were crap. She started digging and digging to find a vein which of course was hurting Evan. Just as I was about to slap her and tell her to knock it off our nurse stepped in and ended up getting blood on the first try. I know that she would not have been digging that much if he had been an adult that could have hit her. I made sure that she never returned to our bedside for a blood draw again.
Awesome Moms last blog post..Awwww
on Sep 7th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Good for you for speaking up and being a strong mama bear!
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I’m just getting caught up on your last few entries and I don’t even know what to say about Peyton’s nightmare hospital visit. It is beyond me how anyone can look at that little face, that perfect, beautiful little face (Peyton’s, not yours – although you are adorable too), and not be absolutely POSITIVE that they can do what needs to be done and do it WELL!! Ticks me off. I know exactly how you feel. Last time Kate was hospitalized, we had a nurse in the ER who came in right in the middle of one of Kate’s seizures. She asked me what was going on and when I told her, she said “Oh, she’s not seizing, I think she just has a belly ache.” Then she turned her attention to Kate and said “You have a belly ache don’t you sweetie pot?” Uhhhh, yeah. Ask a non-responsive child in the middle of a seizure if she has a belly ache. I don’t think so. I was ready to give her a sweetie in the pot!!! Thankfully the Neurologist came in at that moment and dispelled Nurse Ratchett’s diagnosis. GRRRR…you’d think a bit more compassion when working with kids would be in order.
I’m glad Peyton is feeling better. Poor baby. I say it all the time but I really wish I could help you guys out more. regarding the Barbie’s – I’m sending you an email so keep an eye out for it.
J
Jennifers last blog post..FFF; Oh Baby!
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 6:45 am
My Dear Friend A,
I feel so bad that you are having this awful (understatement) week. I had no idea this was going on. I feel terrible and wish that I could have helped in some way. I can totally feel your pain when Peyton was dealing with the moron of a nurse.
I hope things were better yesterday and Peyton if feeling o.k. We are praying for her.
Love,
Lori
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Mom saves the day!
Holly at Tropic of Moms last blog post..Happy birthday!
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Oh you poor things, both of you! I’m so sorry I’m so slow catching up with you. I feel so bad I didn’t realize this was going on.
You are my hero. In the short time I have known you I have come to admire you so much. I hope I am half the advocate for Noah as you are for Peyton.
You go Mom! Don’t mess with our kid!
Kristines last blog post..He "accidentally" ate it