It was the day that changed our family’s lives forever. I still remember the smell of disinfectant and cotton that filled the emergency room. There were unmistakable sounds of physicians and nurses rushing in and out of the sliding glass door screaming for fosphenytonin and other anticonvulsants. The quick paced nurses rushed “crash carts” towards us, and the sirens of various machines engulfed the small space that confined my 4-month old daughter,
Shania, and myself. Within minutes the cramped space filled with dozens of hospital staff. I recall the taste of salt from tears that had built against my lips, and the unforgettable feeling of my heart sinking to the base of my spine. A young doctor knelt in front of me, and attempted to speak comforting …show more content…
Her body was as straight and stiff as plywood. Her eyes were completely white as they deviated towards her right side of her skull. Her frail body was now an abnormal shade of blue which tattooed a piercing fear permanently into my heart. I looked at my phone, and questioned how
I would to explain this to my husband who had yet to know what was going on. How was I to educate my two young sons that their baby sister now suffered a silent disease? A flood of emotions and thoughts filled body, but the one that stood out most was helplessness. After all, how could a mother protect her child from an invisible monster? It was in this moment and moments to come, that the path of my God-given passion and drive of serving others was directed towards the health care industry. My decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree as a health care administrator will help me manage facilities, health care professionals, and patient care advocates such as the ones who helped save my daughter’s life that day.
After Shania’s initial diagnosis, she continued to be hospitalized every week for the next two years due to uncontrolled seizures. Through these times, I came to realize that …show more content…
My daughter suffered through the night due to this poor management, and once her neurosurgeon made his morning rounds he became infuriated that she had suffered for so long. Prolong seizure activity, like what she had to endure, can cause serious and irreversible damage to the brain. Needless to say, my daughter’s neurosurgeon resolved the issue, and apologies were made. However, this situation could have been prevented if management had properly educated staff on correct protocol, and relayed critical information to its patients. I’ve learned that communication is key in educating, such as the time when my daughter went to her first genetics appointment. The physician was ill prepared, and had few remarks to help me understand my daughter’s rare diagnosis, referred to as 6q27 deletion. Thankfully I had researched her condition prior to the visit, and educated myself through a network of other special needs families with similar diagnoses. While I instructed the geneticist and his staff on what I learned, I realized that I was capable of speaking confidently with those who were well versed and educated. I have since been asked to be a patient
advocate for those with epilepsy, and have even fought for patient rights at public hearings
Shania, and myself. Within minutes the cramped space filled with dozens of hospital staff. I recall the taste of salt from tears that had built against my lips, and the unforgettable feeling of my heart sinking to the base of my spine. A young doctor knelt in front of me, and attempted to speak comforting …show more content…
Her body was as straight and stiff as plywood. Her eyes were completely white as they deviated towards her right side of her skull. Her frail body was now an abnormal shade of blue which tattooed a piercing fear permanently into my heart. I looked at my phone, and questioned how
I would to explain this to my husband who had yet to know what was going on. How was I to educate my two young sons that their baby sister now suffered a silent disease? A flood of emotions and thoughts filled body, but the one that stood out most was helplessness. After all, how could a mother protect her child from an invisible monster? It was in this moment and moments to come, that the path of my God-given passion and drive of serving others was directed towards the health care industry. My decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree as a health care administrator will help me manage facilities, health care professionals, and patient care advocates such as the ones who helped save my daughter’s life that day.
After Shania’s initial diagnosis, she continued to be hospitalized every week for the next two years due to uncontrolled seizures. Through these times, I came to realize that …show more content…
My daughter suffered through the night due to this poor management, and once her neurosurgeon made his morning rounds he became infuriated that she had suffered for so long. Prolong seizure activity, like what she had to endure, can cause serious and irreversible damage to the brain. Needless to say, my daughter’s neurosurgeon resolved the issue, and apologies were made. However, this situation could have been prevented if management had properly educated staff on correct protocol, and relayed critical information to its patients. I’ve learned that communication is key in educating, such as the time when my daughter went to her first genetics appointment. The physician was ill prepared, and had few remarks to help me understand my daughter’s rare diagnosis, referred to as 6q27 deletion. Thankfully I had researched her condition prior to the visit, and educated myself through a network of other special needs families with similar diagnoses. While I instructed the geneticist and his staff on what I learned, I realized that I was capable of speaking confidently with those who were well versed and educated. I have since been asked to be a patient
advocate for those with epilepsy, and have even fought for patient rights at public hearings