LeftyDad's girlfriend is having heart surgery tonight

[LeftyMom]

She's getting a pacemaker put in. She's only 36.

Leftykid seems to be very worried about her. I'll take him over to bring her a card and some flowers tomorrow when she's cleared for visitors, but does anybody have a suggestion for keeping his mind off the situation tonight? All he knows or can understand is that she's sick and in in the hospital, but he's talked about that all day and is obviously concerned.

[malta blue]

1. How old is Leftykid?

I ask because it seems I recall pix and he is young. The hosptital may not be the best place for him to see her. Oh heck, I don't know.

His concern is natural, and maybe he can make her a card.

[LeftyMom]

3. He's five.

I'll call ahead and see if there's anything going on he'd be scared by, like if she's wearing an 02 mask or something, but I think he'd handle it okay. He went over to visit her a few days ago when they hadn't found the heart problem yet.

[malta blue]

6. Okay, well you are the best judge of that.

I took Lil MB to a hospital to see a great-aunt. She has diabetes and had had her leg amputated due to gangrene. The little one freaked out (she is 7) and is constantly monitoring everyone's sugar intake now.

The IV lines and a mask may really send him into a worried state.

Peace

[LeftyMom]

7. I don't think IV lines would bother him, he thinks shots are fun.

If she's wearing a mask, that might scare him. I'll try to find out and talk to him about what to expect if I decide to take him over there. If we do go, I'll just take him for a few minutes so he can give her some flowers. I don't want to wear her out and he's not very good at being reserved for more than a few minutes.

[SeattleGirl]

8. You know, LM, if she is wearing a mask, you might want to

swing by the drug store and pick one up for LeftyKid. Even though his would be different than the ones worn in the hospital by patients, it might take the scare out of it for him, if you think he might be a little scared by someone wearing a mask.

And here's hoping that LD's girlfriend is okay.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

14. Likely, she'd just have a nasal canula unless in intensive care.

The nasal canulas (small tubes that go right into the nose) are what's used to deliver O2 to otherwise stable patients that might need a little bit of help. If she'd need it, it would likely be because the pain meds post-op are slowing down her breathing just slightly, so it's used for a little extra measure of safety.

The best thing to do I think if she has a a nasal canula or mask is just to tell LeftyKid, "She just had a big operation and sometimes people need extra air to help them while they're getting better." In my experience (I'm a mom and have worked in pediatrics), once they understand even a little, it's not too scary at all.

:hug:

[bigwillq]

2. Sending out my good vibes to her.

Hope all goes well. :hug:

[LeftyMom]

13. Thank you.

I'll post an update when I hear something.

[miss_american_pie]

4. What a sweetheart

Take him for a walk, out for ice cream? Is there a park nearby? Something to get him out of the house and moving?

[LeftyMom]

5. It's a bit hot.

Maybe we'll go rent a movie and get a treat for dinner. I'll see if he wants to do that.

[reyd reid reed]

9. I'll send her all the positive energy I can...

And the best thing that I can suggest with regard to LK, is to talk to him. Answer his questions when he asks them, but answer them as simply and as positively as possible. You know him better than any of us do...if he won't be distracted, he won't be distracted. At least not until he's satisfied.

:hug:

[LeftyMom]

10. Thank you.

The problem is he's five, and a bit hard to understand at times (though he understands reamarkably well,) so all he's really saying about it is that Holly's in the hospital and that she's sick. I don't think he really has the words to communicate any more about the situation. I let him know that the doctors are going to work extra hard to make her better tonight and maybe tomorrow he can call her or take her flowers. He seems to be okay with that for now.

[reyd reid reed]

15. That does make it hard...

My youngest has communication issues...he understands a LOT...it just sinks into that little head of his and every once in a while, he blows me away...but when it comes to expressing himself, he has a hard time.

Sounds like both of you are doing as well as can be expected. Are they going to call when she's out of recovery?

:hug:

[LeftyMom]

18. I'm sure LeftyDad will call when there's an update.

LeftyKid is a lot more understandable than he used to be. He's always had a big vocabulary, but for a long time he wasn't so great at speaking clearly or expressing things in sentances. Most thougts would be two word combinations, at best. Lately he's using full sentances most of the time. Learning to read this winter seems to have helped a lot with that. I guess seeing things modeled for him on the page helps a lot.

He's still not very clear when he's excited or upset though.

[reyd reid reed]

22. Keep us updated

My youngest had fluency issues...still does. When he was LK's age, his response to the frustration was to just not say Anything, so when he did speak, yeah, it was just a word or two. And if the stammering started, he'd stop there.

The fluency still gets him, especially when he's excited or upset, but he's learning to work through it now, instead of shutting down.

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. Given her youth, she should be in pretty good shape tomorrow...

But how scary to require a pacemaker at age 36!!!

My mother received her first at about age 80. She was kept in cardiac intensive care for a bit, but she had other health issues going on at the time.

When that one wore out and she needed a new one two years ago in May, it was done on an outpatient basis. She was 92 at the time.

The triplets are 5 3/4 and they do tend to get concerned about the people they love when things are amiss. They also visited my mother many times in the hospital and were royally pissed last December (when she died) that they were not allowed to visit her.

[LeftyMom]

12. I think it's pretty lucky the problem was caught

She was just in the hospital for a bad case of strep.

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Yes, it is...

They really are wonderful little machines. She will get an ID card for things like passing through metal detectors. It is totally all right now to use microwave ovens with them. My mother could feel hers when it came on and off...it was the type that went into action only when necessary, but it prolonged battery life.

[OzarkDem]

17. Could he talk to her on the phone?

It might make him feel better without having to take him to the hospital. Five seems so young, they have such active imaginations.

[LeftyMom]

19. I suspect she'd be able to do that

They're talking about sending her home tomorrow night?!?!?! so I guess they expect her to be in pretty good shape tomorrow.

[bertha katzenengel]

20. Bless your heart, LeftyMom.

You're a good woman. Not to mention a good mother -- not only do you want to comfort your son, but you want to do it creatively. Good for you.

:yourock:

[LeftyMom]

21. Thanks!

He's watching Walking With Dinosaurs: Sea Monsters (he's a sucker for wildlife specials, like his Mama) and eating some popcorn right now. He seems to be fine.