Helping me keep my Superwoman Knickers up!

This week saw yet another medical appointment, though it was a good one. For the last year or so FD has been attending two psychologist up at the hospital in order to prepare her for her spinal surgery. Now that surgery is over, there is no need for her to continue seeing them. However, rather than discharge her immediately, the psychologists recognised that for a child like FD, this was not an option and have spent some time with her since her operation, going over how she feels about her new body shape and generally helping her make sense of her experiences.

 

So, off we trotted to the hospital for what we knew would be our very last visit. Its funny how you get so used to having certain people in your life and suddenly they aren't there any more. It is often said amongst special needs communities that we spend more time with medical professionals than we do with family and friends. I think this is true. We learn to build up such a relationship of trust that being with them almost becomes second nature. Thankfully, there are more wonderful and understanding professionals out there than not. Although throughout our special needs journey we have encountered one or two professionals who were less than professional!

 

What I liked about the two psychologists who had been working with FD was their kind, loving and gentle way. The elder of the two was the superior to the younger psychologist and always had time to enquire how I was coping. In between visits she would have phoned me regularly to find out how things were going and if there was anything she could do to lighten my load. She even spent time listening to me break down over the fact that my wider family have yet again decided that they want nothing more to do with me and my children. It happens a lot but that's a blog for another time!

 

During our final visit both psychologists spent a considerable amount of time with FD ensuring that she felt happy and safe enough to do without them. She said she was feeling good about her operation now and was getting used to how she looked. Then they asked her for her advice about what they should tell other boys and girls about going into hospital. Well, FD felt super important at being given this job. They younger of the psychologists sat down with a notebook and she and FD made a list of really important things to tell other children who needed surgery. A wonderful idea I thought! Not only did FD feel she was helping other children, but it was also a very clever way for her to have the opportunity to discuss her thoughts and feelings further. Although one thing she did make the psychologist write down was 'make sure your mummy doesn't leave you alone on the toilet after your surgery because you will fall off like I did!' Thanks FD!

 

At the end of our appointment we said our goodbyes and felt very emotional about the whole thing. Its lovely to have had such genuinely nice people in our lives for a while. People who where there to help me when my Superwoman knickers felt a little tight! We were truly blessed and we often forget to thank those who have been such a support to us. We assume that they do it because its only a job to them. We forget that often they go above and beyond their job description. They work damn hard, often working long hours for little thanks. Maybe, just maybe, we need to remember to say thanks now and again. Without them, our Superwoman knickers might fall down once in a while!