I don’t know how many of you have ever had the misfortune of having to hold your 2 year old while a doctor attempted to take blood or insert a cannulae. All I can say is that this last weekend was one of the worst of my life.

Both my children have Chicken Pox. My son’s chicken pox were very bad and he developed a secondary infection. He had very high temperatures and I struggled to get him an appointment at the GP surgery. I was very reluctant to go and sit in the local A & E with both sick children and the possiblilty of them picking up other bugs as well as infecting other people especially pregnant women etc.

I eventually managed to speak to the practice nurse who put me in contact with the doctor. She wanted to see my son immediately and she then referred us to the paediatric assessment unit. He was then admitted onto the ward after the paediatrician had a look at him.

He had to have blood tests and IV antibiotics. This neccessitated him having a cannulae inserted. They did put anaesthetic cream on his hand to numb it but he still screamed blue murder (probably as much from fear as from pain). I had to hold him really still and have to say that I was amazed at his unbelievable strength. He put up a damn good fight! I felt like my heart was being torn out of my chest. You know you have to do it and yet you have an overwhelming guilt for allowing someone to traumatise your child. Not fun…

He started making good progress after the first couple of days on the IV antibiotics but he developed a terrible fear of anyone in a uniform. The moment his cubicle door opened he started screaming, very unusual for this normally very easy going boy!

The cannulae had to be removed on Sunday because it started causing him a lot of pain. They started him on oral antiboiotics and thanks fully he continued to make good progress. He was discharged on Monday evening. All I can say is that things like this make you re-assess your life and what is REALLY important.

My heart and thoughts go out to all those children and parents who regularly have to spend time in hospitals and in particular those will be spending Christmas in hospital this year.