Friday, March 6, 2015

20 Post-Travel Reflections - Cincinnati Children's Hospital



Two weeks ago we returned from our trip to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for a week long bowel management program at their world renown Colorectal Center.  I have kept a very detailed medical journal that I would be willing to share if anyone wants more specific medical details, especially if you are considering this program.  However, here are some of my thoughts post-Cincinnati:

1 – There is a reason you go to the experts.  They make the process seem easy.
2 – Bowel clean out, while effective is an extremely messy process.  If you’re going to go through this, I can give you more details and suggestions.  If you’re not going through this, you don’t want to know.
3- Child life specialists are awesome!  Toys, i-pads, bubbles, magic wands, stickers and so much more to help with your little one during not so fun procedures.  What awesome people and what a cool job!
4 – Daily x-rays were the norm, and I don’t think I’ve ever been in and out of radiology faster.  Truly about 15 minutes each and every day.  This department knows what they are doing.
5 – Our nurse, Ebony Moorefield, is pretty much one of my favorite nurses ever.  We met with her daily and she was so wonderful all week.
6 – Going to Cincinnati in February meant -17 degree weather and lots of snow.  It also meant we had a nurse all to ourselves and got lots of personal attention.  Life is about trade offs.
7 – Getting in and out of the car in -17 degree with a wheelchair is COLD and person in chair will refuse to push those cold metal wheels for some time after entering a building. 
8 – Having a child who barely reacts when needles are involved is an incredible blessing.  Have the coolest bubble machine I’ve ever seen in the lab room where they do blood draws is an incredibly smart idea, too. 
9 – A laptop with DVD’s is the best help ever for getting through a bowel program.
10 – A Ronald McDonald house is an amazing place.  Full of fun, incredible volunteers and so conveniently located, especially when the city is in a stage 2 snow emergency.  All your meals are even provided here, too. We fell in love with this house and now all our kids want to stay there due to all the stories we tell about it.
11 – If you live in CA, chances are you don’t even think to bring something to wipe the snow and ice off your child’s wheelchair wheels before entering buildings. 
12 – If you go to Cincinnati in February, you’ll be very thankful that you grew up in Idaho and snow driving doesn’t paralyze you. 
13 – Spending time with family while you’re in the midst of a program like this, is pretty wonderful and a sure-fire guarantee you won’t be bored or lonely.
14 – X-rays of a clean and happy colon are some of your most treasured photos while you’re going through a program like this.
15 – Having the nurses and doctors find the exact combination/dose/program for your child from the very beginning is AWESOME and testimony to how good they are at their job.
16- Checking in to several different departments and doctor’s offices daily means you will be asked repeatedly if you have traveled outside the US or been in contact with someone who has.  At some point you just have to start making smart comments. 
17 – If I ever am put in charge of designing a floor for a children’s hospital or school.  I will remember that a bumblebee/zebra path to follow is pretty cool and the kids will love it.  However, I will remember to put in one on each side of the hallway, one for coming and one for going, so children don’t weave all over the hallway and block other people as they try to follow the cute designs. 
18 – Hospitals with excellent signage make me REALLY happy.  Especially when they hospital is extremely large.

19 – A 21 ½ hour day getting home is exhausting.  A flight delayed 2 hours and then 1 ½ hours on the ground being de-iced and burning off fuel will cause your 5-year-old to exclaim, “Hello?  Plane? You can GO now!”  To which everyone around you will laugh and heartily agree.
20 – No matter where you travel, there is no place like home, even if you arrive without your luggage.