I am post call today. It was a busy night and by the time I had got home, it was about 3 in the afternoon. I had been in the hospital 33 hours without sleep. Lots had happened. I finally got to send one of our little 5 year olds home today after a 2 month stay in the hospital.
About 2 months ago, he had been boating with his family. He fell into the water and the propeller from the motor slashed into him on the left side, fracturing his scapula, breaking ribs, cutting into his spleen, pancreas, left kidney, small bowel and large bowel. He also had a femur fracture on the same left side.
Shortly after being admitted, his spleen, left kidney and portions of his bowel were removed. During his long hospital stay, he underwent a number of surgical procedures and needed extensive skin grafting to close up the abdominal wound. While the graft didn't exactly take, his abdmomen is healing.
It was emotional to send him out. There were a lot of specialists involved in his care and it was a nightmare to put together his discharge documents -- so many issues to address for follow up and I was afraid something will be missed if I did not document it thoroughly and go over it with the mom. I got to see his abdominal wound today (perhaps for the last time). If you compare it to a normal 5 year old's abdomen, it would be considered almost frankensteinian with suture marks running in different directions and triangular shaped red scar tissue visible medially and laterally. But if you think about where he has reached, it is a beautiful sight. He will need plastic surgery in the future, but for now, he is alive and going home. I shall miss him.
I was proud to be part of his care. I almost feel like I was sending one of my own babies home. He is a medical miracle and an incredibly brave little boy. I wish him well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment