Kintropy In Action

Life with an equipment-supported child can make the simplest task complicated.

This week we had two nights unexpectedly uncovered for nursing care. The nurse for these shifts got sick, and there is a shortage this month, so that meant two nights in a row of Robert and I doing the night shift. I'm not complaining - it just causes stress on my body. My immune system crashed, and I’m dealing with pink eye and a throat infection.

I needed to go to the doctor. I called the doctor’s office and the only available appointment was 12:15. Luckily my in-laws have moved to town this would have been more complicated before. My father in-law came and picked me, Hannah and her equipment up.

We went to the office and were directed timely to an examination room. For some reason, the offices were out of strep testing kits, and they needed me to go downstairs to the lab. So my father in-law and I started packing up Hannah and the equipment.

"Oh, you two can stay up here," the aide said to my father in-law (who was carrying Hannah).

"Nope, he is not qualified to care for her," I said cheerily. My in-laws have still been settling and haven’t had the time to learn how to suction, vent, change a trach, or change a g-tube. All could be needed at a moment’s notice.

The women stared at me, confused. This is a medical professional; I assume she was an aide and not a nurse.

My father in-law and I started gathering bags containing the portable suction machine, back up trach, and g-tube supplies.

"You can leave your bags here."

I smiled "No, I can’t"

--Mom