Every now and then I have a patient at the hospital that really touches my heart. Just yesterday, 5 year old X went home after just over a month in the hospital. He got sick with bacterial pneumonia, and ended up in the ICU on the vent. Then he went into kidney failure and his GI tract stopped working. It was looking bad. But he didn't have to be on dialysis very long and his kidneys starting functioning again, and soon his GI tract started functioning too, and we were able to start tube feeds. Eventually he was able to get off the vent and breathe on his own and eat on his own. About 10 days ago he was transferred to the regular pediatric floor. When I went in to see him after that weekend, I was amazed! He looked totally different without the puffiness and not being hooked up to machines. He was a different kid. He was so adorable. Very smiley and a little bashful, but he would talk to anyone who talked to him. He wasn't eating very well, so I went to talk to his grandpa who happened to be with him at the time. I asked how the eating was going that day, not thinking that X was paying any attention, but then he piped up in a sweet little voice, "I ate some pizza today!". It was the cutest thing ever! Over the past week he has been working on improving his intake of food and building up his strength with physical and occupational therapy, and yesterday he got to go home! Good for him, but we will miss his sweet little smile!
X's case is one of those that is a reality check. He was a healthy little boy and just randomly got so sick. I am so happy that he is recovering so well and will be back to normal eventually. It makes me grateful for my health, and grateful for the healing that does happen.
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