First day in the hospital

Tuesday was hospital day!  We boarded the bus shortly before 8:00 a.m. to make our trek to the hospital.  Unfortunately, we found ourselves on the wrong bus, so we took the scenic tour.  An hour later, we finally made it.

 

 

We were greeted by the kind Dr. Carner, with whom we have been corresponding by e-mail. The doctors here office on the same ward where their patients are located.  Dr. Carner is just around the corner from the ENT ward where Anna will stay.   Dr. Colletti's office is also just down the hall.

The head nurse, Marisella, came and greeted us and showed us to the hospital room where we will spend the next three weeks.  They had a crib set for Anna and a hospital bed set up for me.  I didn't think Anna would fit in the crib or want to be in the crib, but she climbed right in, and its long enough to fit her. 

Hospital check-in in Italy is very unlike the U.S.  Nobody asked me to sign a consent to treatment form.  I didn't have to fill out a HIPAA privacy form.  They didn't ask my religious preference or whether we wanted a DNR.  Nobody even asked me about how I planned to pay.  Anna was not given any kind of identification bracelet.  They did hang an identification chart on the end of her bed.  Her medical chart is in a 3-ring binder, and they just hand it to us to carry wherever we go.

For Day 1, they did many things.  Anna reported to the lab (just across the hall) for bloodwork and a urinalysis.  The general pediatrician came by and performed his examination.  He said Anna was "perfecto" and added "now, it's my job to keep her that way."  Indeed.

Anna had her first hospital meal - a boiled chicken breast, bread, a bowl of pasta with tomato sauce and zucchini.  She was not terribly thrilled and did not eat much.

 

After lunch, Anna reported for an echocardiogram.  Here's another way things are different here. In the U.S., a nurse will come and tell you that you are having a test.  Then you wait and wait.  Then eventually a transporter comes and takes you to where the test will take place.  You wait some more.  Then someone takes you back to your room.  Here, the nurse came and told us we were going for a test.  She walked us to the area, where we waited for approximately 12 seconds before someone else came and got us, did the test, and handed us back our record book.  We walked ourselves back to our room.  We never really know what is happening more than a few moments before it happens.  Once they tell us we will have something, it seems to happen pretty fast.

 

Anna was going a little stir-crazy in the afternoon, so I took her down to the lobby for an ice cream.  That was a big hit.  Now she keeps asking to go to the lobby.

 

For dinner, Anna was served two complete kiwi fruits (she enjoyed the cutting and peeling process), some kind of meat patty and steamed greens.  She ate the kiwi and the greens, but would not touch the meat.  I tried to translate was the meat was, but my translator told me "victim."  I guess it was a victim of something.  I'm still not sure what it was.

 

It has been a little challenging so far because there is no place to make yourself a quick cup of soup or coffee.  There is a cafe downstairs where you can buy espressos, cappacinos, or things like that, but no place to access a microwave or a hot water dispenser.  I'm eating many crackers.

 

Getting Anna ready for bed was an adventure.  Our room has a bathroom, but it only has a sink, toilet and bidet - no place to shower or bathe.  There is a shower down the hall for the whole hallway.  I took Anna in and gave her a quick shower, but the place was not so very clean.  I was really wishing I had packed shower shoes for Anna.  Also, they don't provide towels or rags, so I will need to make sure I bring some to the hospital for Anna for the coming days.  Just another difference.

 

 Anna was fine, though, and once she had on her feety pajamas, she padded down the hall and happily climbed into bed. Our first night in the hospital we peaceful. Anna and I both slept well. Since she hasn't had surgery yet, there wasn't anyone coming in to check vitals or give medication. We were told the reason for spending the week before surgery in the hospital was to make sure Anna stayed healthy and to reduce the infection and complication risk. Even though the hospital is not as asceptic as ours in the U.S., they seem to know what they are doing, so I am just trying to take it all in stride.

 

Our roomates are a sweet family from Los Angeles.  The parents are originally from Taiwan and came to the United States to work on their Ph.Ds.  Their baby boy is 17 months old and has CHARGE syndrome.  He is deaf, has vision issues, swallowing issues, and low muscle tone.  We have enjoyed talking about China and Taiwan. 

 

This family does not yet understand why I would want to adopt children at all, much less children with medical issues.  "Don't you want children of your own?," they asked.  How do you explain what can't be explained?  When you are a believer, and God puts it in your heart to do something, not doing it would be wrong.  I don't want to be wrong with God, so I just try to do as He leads.  He led my family to Amelia, and then to Anna and Lucy. I didn't go looking for a deaf child, or a child with a heart defect, or a healthy child.  I didn't go looking for a Chinese child or a Taiwanese child.  These are the children He put in my path and in my heart.  They ARE my own because they are the children He has given me.  I am SO glad that He chose this path for me.  It's not what I would have chosen for myself -- it's a good thing He is the Father, and when it comes to the Father, He truly does know best.

 

Blessings from Italy,

Amy