Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

-Oprah Winfrey

Saturday, January 26, 2008
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It is time to pull out the Chocolate Fountain!! The Family Support Committee is having our January “Take Care of the Caregiver” event.

Place: Fairview Community Center, 1910 West County Road B, Roseville (Fairview and County Road B)

Featuring: Massage, Chocolate, Music and Tips to Care for the Caregiver.

For Registration, Interpreter, Transportation and Questions: 651-604-3700

A parent's guide to surviving a hospital stay (continued from p. 3)

• Massage Therapy: Now a requirement for David when available because it reduces his anxiety and he's more cooperative. (Usually reserved for the patient, but I got a massage once too!)
• Medication: Most of us don't want to medicate our children unnecessarily, but anti-anxiety medication may help a child cooperate with treatment, allowing a quicker recovery.
• Cloth restraints: Alast resort, but I'd rather comfort a restrained child than be the one restraining him.
• Prolonged sedation/medical coma: Sounds terrible, but the last time David had surgery, the physician ordered him sedated for two extra days and he recovered quicker because he wasn't pulling out IVs, etc.
• People: We've seen social workers, a medical ethicist, a behavior therapist, religious personnel. Some hospitals have music and/or art therapists: you can ask even if not offered a visit.
• Care conference: Again, ask if you feel it's needed but not offered. We've used care conferences to plan for home care and to make decisions about life-changing procedures when we wanted input from the entire team working with David.

5. Take care of yourself. I stay with David the entire time he is in the hospital because of his distress at being there, and I know that sitting all day can really tire a person out! I don't always take my own advice, but I know it's important to take a break and leave the room. If your child will sleep without you, go home and rest. When people visit, or when hospital staff is there, leave and have something to eat, take a walk or a shower. I have rung the nurses' station to say I needed to leave. The hospital staff respects your relationship with your child so they don't always stay if you're there, but you can let them know you need a break. Tell family and friends what your favorite junk magazines are, and have them bring the latest editions - along with a stash of fruit, nuts, granola bars, etc.

6. Be creative. If David's diet isn't restricted, this is the time to offer pop as a reward for whatever they need him to do. He doesn't always know the pain index of a procedure so sometimes he fights a blood pressure cuff as fiercely as a blood draw. A bottle of pop in the waiting room may earn a little cooperation. David also loves the elevator so we take lots of elevator rides when mobility isn't an issue. For comfort, I've climbed right in the bed with him. There's usually no reason that it would compromise his care, so we cozy up and watch a video. A few times during longer stays, David got sick of the bed so the nurses have come in to find me in the bed and David in the chair!

7. Take care of your family. Usually there isn't much that people can do for David when he's in the hospital; he only wants Mom (or sometimes Dad). But you can still take people up on their offers to help. Have them bring dinner for the rest of the family or make sure siblings get to their activities. If there are chores you can delegate, do so (one of our neighbors walked our dog twice a day).

8. Put this list in your portfolio (see #1) and remember to advocate for yourself and your child!