Today is the day after Olivia’s difficult experience of enduring her second bone strengthening Bisphosphonate treatment at Evelina Children’s Hospital. These are the thoughts that pass over me.

In the weeks leading up to the appointment, a strong wave of anxiety overcame me that caused a painful migraine that would not subside. No amount of meditation or medication could assuage my feeling of stress and worry for what Olivia was going to endure. The fear, the pain, the uncertainty. Strangers poking needles through her skin. The side effects. This emotional build-up created a fog in my mind that I couldn’t clear. How am I supposed to keep my feet on the ground and live my life as a full-time, 100% dedicated wife and mother of 3 young girls while handling these heightened levels of worry?

‘Why do I have to go to the doctor,’ Olivia asked? I explained to her well in advance that mommy and daddy and the doctors were trying to strengthen her bones with a special medicine. How will they put the medicine in me, she asked? We gently re-enacted a scenario using her sister Gabriella’s doctor’s kit. This was very helpful. As Olivia is so clever, one must give a full explanation of what will happen, in order to calm her worry.

During our appointment at Evelina, we sat and waited for the numbing cream to do its work in 4 different areas on her arms.  We opened presents from loved ones; read books, sewed a fluffy bunny toy together, and reassured her everything would be fine. Thank you for everyone’s love and concern. The cards and gifts cheered her up immensely!

When we were taken into the clinical room to insert the cannula, this is where her contentment shifted.  Unbeknownst to me, we were assigned a junior nurse who could not seem to find a ‘good’ vein. The room became nervous.  In order to follow procedure, she said she had to make two attempts before asking a more experienced nurse to try. This statement did not give us confidence in her ability. Olivia’s screams were bone chilling.  What could we do? I couldn’t show her I was scared too. I quickly scooped Olivia into my arms, and we left the room. How dare this nurse ‘practice’ on my daughter. The senior nurse came to our room to defensively explain that this was necessary for junior nurses to gain experience with children who are more ‘complicated.’ Children with vitamin D bone deficiencies are known to have smaller veins.  After a 10-minute break, the more experienced nurse was in and out of the room in 30 seconds! The cannula was in and Olivia barely made a sound. Thank you, Jesus!

I left a detailed feedback form and spoke to the consultant’s senior nurse in order to file a complaint, so this doesn’t happen to Olivia again. If these treatments are necessary for the next 2+ years, I must protect her emotionally and physically. Don’t worry, Olivia, Momma bear on duty!

You are a Supergirl and together, we will get through it all!

Love,
Mommy x