Come On!

Alright, enough already... I've heard repeatedly that there will be good days and bad days, one day at a time, etc. I'm just looking to string together a couple of uneventful days! No luck.

During one of Meaghan's therapy sessions it appears that she had two very brief focal seizures. Neurology has been consulted and an EEG is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I can't even begin to wrap my head around this potential wrinkle. Strike one!

In addition to this development, Meg has lost 1.5 Kg in one week, so removing the feeding tube is a no-go. While her weight loss is being attributed to her level of exertion during therapy, they do not want her weight loss to get out of control. Strike two!

So while we're at it, we were advised of Meaghan's double randomization results: She will receive the standard doses of radiation during both phases of her treatment (cranio spinal axis and posterior fossa). We were really praying that she receive a reduced dose of radiation at some phase of her radiation. Strike three!!

All this information came neatly bundled within a 15 minute time span.

Yeah, I lost it today.

Here's a little piece of advice for all you med students, residents and attendings: Read a patient's flippin' chart before you come in to assess! Stop and think that neither the patient nor the family wants or needs to repeat every little detail of the entire saga. Come informed!

Here's another little morsel of advice for parents: if a room full of white coats and scrubs staring at and talking about your child upsets her, kick 'em out. Have them assess, then go to another room for consult. And don't apologize for expecting them to come prepared or asking them to be sensitive to their patient's emotional tolerance for being spoken about in third person.

And while I'm at it... Lord, enough already! I'm not looking for miracles (while it wouldn't hurt). I'm just looking to string together several uneventful days for Meg. That's it. I just wanted her to have some peace before radiation begins next week.