(no subject)
this past week ruby had what should be her last jaw surgery.
while we were in the surgery waiting room at the hospital, a family came in.
everyone did all they could to make a young woman comfortable, walking slowly next to her, helping her sit down and helping elevate her feet.
It was obvious she just had a baby.
The only reason she would be at children's hospital in new orleans after having a baby was because her baby was in nicu.
She was sitting close to us, and I heard her talk about her son being on a ventilator. Ventilators are commonly used connected to a trach, I thought maybe I could give some comfort.
I asked if he had a trach.
she said no, the valves in his heart were backwards and his oxygen kept going down.
so, I thought I was just appearing rude by asking because I couldn't relate to her sons heart condition.
She asked about our child and I told her that a year ago, I was exactly where she was: at children's nicu wondering how life would ever become normal.
She had just had her baby two days prior to us meeting, and they didnt understand any terminology or specialist names yet.
I explained what I could.
After talking more, we discovered they were from lafayette too.
I offered advice on what comes after her and her baby go home.
home health. social security income. medicaid. and all of the legalities and hoops she would have to jump through to take care of her child.
mid conversation, her husband stood up with tears in his eyes and hugged me.
they left the waiting room before we did, but they got our contact information because they wanted to ask more questions once they understood their situation better.
the next day, we were about to go home with ruby but we decided to bring her to visit her old nicu nurses.
one nurse came out excited to see her and the new mom I met the day before walked out of the bathroom and saw us with Ruby.
her son's nurse was one of the same nurses Ruby had!
She also felt good about us having a baby that was in nicu for a month, but a year later she is running around like a normal baby.
she still has a trach, but she isn't just laying immobile in a bed like people picture all disabled people to be.
and by seeing me and brandon, young parents that have to tote around medical equipment. use a special screwdriver to stretch our daughters jaw forward. with another child to take care of. and we are doing just fine.
we gave her hope that her life won't stay as hectic as she feels right now.
I'm glad I could be a part of that.