Hospital stays from a Mums perspective

Somebody kindly asked me what we needed help with while Chase was in hospital. Although I really thought about it – there was nothing I could think of!

For nearly 10 years Waikato Hospital and specifically Ward 53 have become a second home. We kind of just fit in when we arrive and get on with it.

Typically we know that Chase is going downhill so we kick into action:

·         I spend the weekend before going into hospital cooking up a storm and getting frozen meals prepared so we don’t have to eat A) takeaways or B) spend crazy money at the Café!

·         Steve mows the lawns and tidies up around the house so he doesn’t have to worry about that.

·         I also collect old toys, books & activities that I regularly ‘hide’ under the house and bring them out so the boys have new toys to play with while hanging out together in Chase’s room.

·         I pack coffee cups and a picnic pack. You may be surprised at how eating with real knives and forks, drinking a coffee from a real cup goes a long way into making it feel normal!

Then we set the button to automatic!

·         5am starts – Usually Dad heads to hospital to get there by half 6 to get Chase sorted for the morning, breakfast, clothes, the usual!

·         After I start work at 6am and finish work at 11am, then Joshua and I head up to hang out with Chase for lunch and the afternoon.

·         Now that they no longer have the playroom open in the afternoons it does get boring but we play games so that helps.

·         We try and have dinner together each night unless Steve is away for work. Then by 7pm Chase is showered, on the pump and tucked in with a huge hug from all of us. We go home missing him as soon as we walk out the hsopital door!

Then when Chase comes home – we breathe again, and just get back into the groove of keeping Chase healthy by supporting him and helping him achieve his little goals along with the BIG ones like his New York White Christmas and spending as little time as possible in hospital.

So hug your children, hug your friends and hug yourself – consider it Chase’s gift!

 From Chases Mum :)

5 days to go for Chase until he comes home YAYYY!!