Sunday, March 25, 2007
Here is a riddle for you:
Who stays in hospital but isn't sick?
Answer:
The parent of a sick child.

Recently and more depressing it is hard not to compare it to a prison. As life can be a bit boring I have started to compare. Not that I can compare very well because I have never been in prision. I should also say that I am not trying to make out that prison is easy cause I am sure it isn't.

Size of the room
Prision- Don't know
Hospital- Very small. Put a single bed, a chair and a cot side by side and you have the width. Add an extra metre at the end of the bed and you have the depth.

Food
Prision- three square meals a day.
Hospital- BYO. Wait you get breakfast, a little bowl of ricies and two pieces of bread. Other than that it is takeaways or whatever you can get at the overpriced cafes at the hospital. Or dinners from sweet individuals.

Entertainment
Prison- TV and whatever else you bring (I think)
Hospital- A TV in the ceiling but nothing else- there is no room! However I have rediscovered knitting!

Contact with the outside world
Prison- Phone calls, visits and I don't think you are allowed a cellphone?
Hospital- pretty much limited to your cellphone. Getting a text is particulary exciting! No emails or phonecalls. Visitors cheer you up hugely!

Exercise/Time out of room
Prison- you get an hour out in a 24 hour period ( I think)
Hospital- you can leave the room to have a shower or get a coffee. However you run the risk of missing a doctor visit and leaving your baby unattended. Which goes against all mothering instincts. Nope the nurses dont babysit. It does a lot for the soul to have a shower. There is nothing like talking to a doctor in your PJs and bed hair to realise the humbling position you are in. Other than that you are stuck there until some you are comfortable leaving baby with shows up. You sleep in the room too.


Sleep
Prison- I assume it is ok? Quiet, lights out and all that stuff.
Hospital- not much. Between nurses coming in hourly and a sick and crying baby sleep is limited. But that is ok cause you can sleep during the day. NO you can't- still the nurse AND doctors and the sick baby.

Visits home
Prison- none or by special arrangements.
Hospital- if Hamish has the day off I get go home for a couple of hours and to sleep overnight at the MacDonalds. You miss your own bed. It is a catch 22. You need to go home to regain some sanity but you have to leave your baby. Even though she is with her daddy it is still hard for a mother to do.


Well that is all I can think of. I am sure there are more. I hope you have gotten some insight into an interesting world of a adult in a childrens hospital. It is hard very hard. You appreciate the support of friends and family so much. I had a darling friend spend the day with me on Friday! It was the best hospital day ever. It is a weird time. You hear from people you don't expect and don't hear from people you do expect. Random strangers show such kindess, it is truely heartwarming.

Labels: Hospital

Anita posted at 6:35 pm