Our club doesn't hold regular meetings or have a secret handshake, but its members can generally spot one another across a waiting room. We are the parents who know right where the popsicles are, the names and ages of all of the nurses' children, and have the food service menu memorized. We spend a lot of time in hospitals.
When it comes to kids in hospitals, it really is the little things that matter. Bright colors, the Disney Channel, and bendy straws are all appreciated.
One of our two regular hospitals has a rooftop garden with an outdoor play area. Fresh air and sunshine go a long way when kids just want to feel normal! This is Miss E's first choice to eat our lunch after her appointments with her primary specialist. It has become part of her routine and we account for this time when planning our visits.
Miss E's first time under anesthesia at the age of three was made much less scary thanks to a few special touches:
- I was able to go into the O.R. with her until she fell asleep
- I was wearing the same surgical coverings as the nurses
- She was allowed to 'drive' the cozy coupe car that she found in the sterile play room into the O.R.
We feel very blessed by most of the experiences that Miss E has had with regard to treatment facilities. Of course we have had some experiences that we would undo given the opportunity, but the majority of care providers have had Miss E's comfort as a top priority, and for that we are thankful.
If we ever get the opportunity to trade in our children's hospital club membership, you better believe I'm going to jump on it. In the meantime, we'll appreciate that we have access to specialized treatment facilities for children; so many in the world do not.