Tips for managing hospital visits
Maia, our 14-year-old daughter, has been to the Operating Theatre around 30 times over the years, and she’s had countless other check-ups. Our family is accustomed to hospital visits. Thankfully, the care that our daughter receives outweighs all the hassle. Children with hearing loss often have to visit the hospital on a regular basis. We’ve taken a less-traveled road, and, as teenagers, we can reflect and share what we found to be effective.
1. Plan
It is a fact that transporting a child from the hospital to home can be expensive and time-consuming. We have learned to plan as much as possible and deal with delays in trains and other unpredictable curve balls when necessary. In comparison, the actual hospital appointment can be a breeze. We usually travel to London and avoid the crowds to save money and avoid high prices. We have also learned to expect the trip to take longer than anticipated and to celebrate if we arrive home early. The cost of parking at the hospital is astronomical. There are also childcare costs for Annabel, Maia’s younger sister, and time off from work.
We try to make our return home as easy as possible. Even if the trip is only a day, we are tired and have schoolwork and chores that need to be done. We need to keep our teachers, clubs, and families updated on the results of our medical appointments.
2. Coping Mechanisms
We’ve had to help Maia deal with all these medical experiences in different ways as she grew up (and also help the rest of the family). It can be difficult to strike the right balance between preparing a child for an important surgery and trying to make it seem less serious so that they sleep well at night. When I was little, my favorite books were Miss Polly Had a Dolly or Peppa Pig and Topsy & Tim. Maia’s favorite book is R.J. Palacio Wonder, which features a Treacher-Collins Syndrome character. She also loves Nikki Lily and her real-life connections with people who live in similar conditions.
The pediatric staff is a master at distraction before surgery. We know what to do and haven’t needed to give Maia a pre-med for a long time. Last summer, she took her giant Porg (from Star Wars) to the theatre and discussed with the nurse the virtues of cute fantasy animals.
3. Enjoy yourself
The majority of Maia’s medical jollies take place at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is ideally located for a little London fun. Our route from St Pancras takes us past such gems as The British Library and The Brunswick Centre on even our most hurried of trips. We love the hospital, but sometimes we need a breather before heading home. We can discuss the advice of the doctor while it is still fresh, calm any nerves that may have been jangled, and make even the most routine visit into something special.
If you’re curious, I asked my family about their essentials. Maia asked, “Can we go shopping next time?” Annabel said, “I’m also coming!” Martin added, “coffee!” We roll like that!
