CHLA Here We Come!

 It’s about 8:45 am on a Friday morning, and I arrive at the hospital. I sign onto the computer because I can’t let my students down, it’s our first day of student lead huddles via breakout rooms- a pretty big deal. I explain to the nurse that I’ll be teaching from the hospital, but that doesn’t stop the millions of people that enter Em’s room. 

During the morning student led  huddle, the pediatrician on call stopped by to explain to me that he will be transferred to CHLA. “They require a couple tests, so it will probably be tomorrow. We have to ensure he isn’t positive for Covid.” 

“Simon says, put your finger on your nose!” my huddle leader shouts. I continue to have a very serious conversation with a finger on my nose. 

He realized that I was rather busy with Simon says, and decided to cut the conversation a little short by explaining a cardiologist will be talking with me shortly. I nod and continue to be there with my students. 

During this time, Em is very lethargic. He is just in a fetal position, and looking at me. I grab his hand, give him some smiles, but he’s not in the mood. This is not my smiley and flirtatious boy. 

You could tell he just wanted to rest. So, of course the cleaning crew would come in and clean now. I tried to say no- but they were not listening. Ugh.

Some times passes, and it is now time to hop onto the staff meeting. Of course another person would happen to come in and talk to me at the same time. This time, the cardiologist. He doesn’t talk to me at first, because he can see that I’m busy. The nurse also put on the door, “School in Session.” A sign they make for the kids, but it works for me as well. 

He pokes and prods Em and listens to him on his stethoscope. Finally, he says, “Do you have a minute.” 

I move the lap top with my dear colleagues all saying good morning to each other. I could really use some extra love and “see” my friends today. 

“So, we are going to transfer him to CHLA. He needs his surgery, and he needs to be admitted before they schedule. He is in severe range for Heart Failure...”

I think I stopped listening after that. Wouldn’t you? Heart Failure. My baby’s heart is failing? The reason he just wants to be held all day and sleep all day is because his heart is failing. His body is telling him to rest. These are not the words that you want to hear at all. 

Hours have gone by, and they have done the covid testing, (and I had done TONS of grading) but CHLA decided that they want to monitor him and get him prepped for surgery. So, he is being transported today. 

That doesn’t mean surgery is happening soon. It just means he is admitted to CHLA in the PICU for better monitoring because of this severe heart failure. He has to share his nurse with one other patient. Way better than sharing your nurse with 5 other kiddos in Kaiser’s Peds. 

We meet with the surgeon on Monday, and he will tell us options and times/day for surgery.  We will know much more information once we meet with him. Keep us in your thoughts! This is tougher than the first time.