Favorite Hannah Picture

Favorite Hannah Picture
"Yes, the park!"

Hannah Ballerina

Hannah Ballerina

Play Time

Play Time
"Go super fast!"

Hannah's Room

Hannah's Room

Happier Hannah

Happier Hannah

Hannah sleeping 4-13-10

Hannah sleeping 4-13-10

Preschool Friend's Art

Preschool Friend's Art
Yeah! Friends!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hostage Negotiator


Hannah had chemo today. It is actually the last treatment of the IM phase. In this, IM phase, we don't go in for chemo as often. Straight out the gate that makes the appointments a little harder because she is not as used to them.

I often joke that, with Hannah on chemo drugs, my job now, has become, Hostage Negotiator. Talking her down from the ledge of tantrum is sometimes just part of the tasks. Luckily, she becomes very reasonable fast. She also jumps from calm to screaming angry, fast. Thanks to many books on Leukemia, I was at least not unaware this would be the scenario. I have to say, I was unprepared for today.

She had quite the fit just to leave for the hospital. Once we were there it went alright, although, I did have to use some of my Negotiator skills to get through the port accessing and the drawing of blood. Hey, who likes being stuck with big needles?

The trouble really started with the crazy wait once we were in our room. It took a little over 2-1/2 hours for her labs to come back. Finally, our Dr. came in to say, that they were not back yet, but we could go to lunch downstairs while we waited if we wanted. In front of Hannah. Thank you for that.

Of course, Hannah loved the idea and was getting shoes ready! The Dr. walked out and in the time it took to get one of Hannah's shoes on, came back in with the labs we had been waiting on. In order for Hannah to get her chemo today we needed her labs showing us her blood counts were high enough to support it. Turns out, there were, and instead of lunch we would be heading over to the infusion room for chemo.

That is when it began.

She was saying loudly that she did not want medicine. I was using the first stage of skill by letting her know it was just through the tubies and not her mouth. She started screaming. I set her down in the big green chair in her new room. She got right up and ran. She actually faked left first. She made it half way down the hall. You should have seen the look on the nurses faces. I caught her brought her back and started what I had thought was a pretty impressive Negotiation. Then, the nurse came in with oral meds. It was the Zofran for nausea, so not actual chemo, but killing my credibility all the same.

Hannah was literally screaming at the top of her lungs. She was kicking, hitting, twisting, anything to get out of there. We had to hold her down for the meds. She spit at us. She screamed she hated me, she screamed the nurses were brats, (which I initially thought might have been another word, but after hearing it again, it was brat). She wanted out of there at any cost. In that moment, talking her down from crazy was not possible.

After it was over, we made a beeline for the door. By the time we were in the car she was full of the sorry mommy stuff that helps me know she is ok. For me, today was such a FAIL. I have been over and over it for next time. I should have made a plan with her before we went to infusion room about the lunch. It is just those little details that helps her and I missed it.

Tomorrow is another day and we will try again.

5 comments:

  1. Reading this entry brought tears to my eyes. Knowing how strong willed these 4 year olds are...whew...I don't know how you do it! Hugs to you, Carrie. No one should have to negotiate chemo treatments with her child and you are doing the best you can under really difficult circumstances. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Congrats on finishing interim maintenance. I hope the next phase is easier on everyone! Kathy

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  2. You're an amazing Mama and I think God has given you a ton of strength to not only get through this, but to learn and grow and to help Hannah soar through it all. I can't imagine having to deal with this, with Ethan. He hates going to the Dr. just to have a check-up. He always thinks they secretly want to prick him with a million needles, even though he's only had shots every so often. Cracks me up.
    Last time he had his vaccinations, we only did half because he through the biggest fit and the nurse said she wasn't trained well enough.

    You totally inspire me and I'm not just saying that. I think sometimes kids react outwardly the way adults have reacted inwardly. We know better to hold in so much of those emotions, but sometimes I love how raw and real kids are. She didn't want to be there, she didn't want to get the meds and she's tired of going back and forth from the hospital. I think her reaction was probably how you feel at times - she just let it all out. Poor thing.
    I think you two need to treat yourselves to something fun and yummy :)

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  3. Carrie,

    You are a STRONG MOM. I don't blame Hannah one moment for her reaction....what she is going through sucks, isn't fair, and if my adult brain can't wrap around it...I don't know how her four year old brain could.

    I remember when Sara was 4, and she was going to doctor's visits, having four finger pokes a day, and three shots a day....she would throw her blood glucose meter in the garbage...kick me when she was going to get a shot...and tell me that she didn't love her Mommy anymore....

    It used to tear my heart out...I used to have to sit on her to give her, her shots.

    What I can tell you, is she feels close enough to you, to know that she can act out, and KNOWS that her Mommy loves her...she's mad that she has to do all this crap...and taking it out on the people closest to her.

    You will learn from this, and have a different game plan for next time.

    When Sara was small and had many doctor visits, I let her choose if we would have lunch or snack in the cafeteria at Children's hospital. So she had a little control over the situation.

    Hugs Carrie.

    Liz

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  4. Carrie...YOU ARE AMAZING. I find myself humiliated once wishing I had a real disease like cancer, not just an ailment like Diabetes and watching you guys fight for life. Life is never fair, but you and Hannah show us all how to live..<3

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  5. P.S. Carrie....I'm in no way comparing illnesses....just trying to think of any small suggestion that might help.

    Thinking of you and your little family..and see you next week!

    Liz

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