Suffering

Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:46pm

Patrick just brought Sydney back from Quest. She had to give a urine sample (which went well) and a blood sample. The first phlebotomist was awful. She couldn't find the vein and kept using the same hole. She kept moving the needle in different angles in the hole, trying to find the vein. I've had blood drawn by bad phlebotomists before, without the wiggling of the needles and found the experience extremely painful. I can't imagine the pain Sydney endured. But she was such a good little girl. She never pulled her arm away. But she cried and cried. Finally, the bad phlebotomist gave up and got someone more experienced. And the second person succeeded. Afterwards, Sydney got down from her chair and looked around and asked Patrick, "don't I get a treat? Where's my treat?" Patrick called me for me to prepared her treat. She was due for her 15 grams of carbs anyway. I went to the kitchen and carefully measured out her treat. I had it ready for her when they came home.

When Patrick was opening the car door for her I asked him, "when is she going to stop suffering? When is this going to end?" Patrick just sighed. Sydney was so exhausted by the experience, she fell asleep in the car. We couldn't wake her up for her treat. She didn't even get her treat. After carrying her to bed, Patrick marveled anew how Sydney never pulled her arm away during the blood draw and I told him, she's accepting the pain. She's understanding suffering is an inevitable part of her life now. When is my daughter going to stop suffering? These tests are for her surgery on the 16th to fix her ureters. She hasn't even had her surgery yet and already it's been this rough.