My son had an appendectomy when he was 7 years old.
Alzl complained of a stomachache early on Monday, but since he has a tendency to magnify even the slightest pain he experiences, i doubtfully looked him over and suggested simple remedies to ease his pain. However, after some time, he seemed to get more and more agitated and then he started crying. The pain seemed to be getting worse. We decided to bring him to the emergency room as a precaution. I must mention that Alzl has a fear of injection and anything related to a hospital, thus, successfully getting a blood sample is already a triumph on the nurses’ part. And of course, there was a security guard to help hold him down.
A few minutes after the resident got the result of his CBC and urinalysis, she immediately informed us of the prognosis : appendicitis. The procedure seemed simple enough but can Alzl take it? Take it he did, but only after countless protest and a long litany of why we should just leave the hospital and go back home.
The day after the operation was the only time i saw my son turn from a sweet little boy with an always sunny disposition into a grouch. He was Mr. Hyde personified. Worse than Shrek was before he met Fiona. No one was allowed to talk, laugh, snicker or even whimper because you would surely catch his ire. The room was kept as dark as night even if there were visitors inside the room. Coaxing him out of bed was like asking him to jump off a bridge or swallow a sword. He just wouldn’t do it! He even accused us (his parents) of not praying hard enough for him! Thanks to his doctor and to his Lola Nenette who tirelessly encouraged and explained to him why he has to move. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally did.
And so his recuperation began. He was up and about on the third day, slowly roaming the corridors of the hospital with his sister, Alhia. His IV was taken off and he was put on a soft diet. Finally, on the fourth day, we were discharged. We went back to the comfort of our home. Amidst a combination of red and blue balloons that said “Welcome home Kuya! Lots of love, Alhia”, Alzl got to sleep on his own bed for the first time in four days. So did his father and I.
LTL 27July2007
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