The Monday After: Life After Hospital with a Medically Complex Child

What does the Monday after being in the hospital/rehab for a month look like?

It looks like calling to place this month’s order of diapers and gtube supplies.

It looks like the clinical supervisor from the home health company coming to readmit Kolin.

It looks like having to drag your new oxygen concentrator around the house to use while your son is napping on the couch.

It looks like unpacking all of your new supplies and equipment and everything else you needed while in the hospital for the past 30 days.

It looks like digging through a stack of mail only to find that the deadline has come and gone for you to keep the benefits that your late husband earned while serving this country…so you call and plead your case….(successful)

It looks like packing up book orders that came in while you were inpatient because business doesn’t stop.

It looks like appointment with your son’s primary care doctor to help ground you….

It looks like your gas light coming on as you are on your way to the PCP appointment because you were too tired to stop on the two-hour drive home from rehab.

It looks like consciously having to remind yourself that this is okay to slow down…..

It looks like stopping to grab a cup of coffee from Dunkin because you need a pick me up.

It looks like being exhausted and it isn’t even 4pm yet.

And it looks like paying that your home health nurse doesn’t call out tonight because you could really use a good night’s sleep.