halo wearing

This weeks word of the week is Hospital, but don’t worry, it’s just that we’ve had two routine appointments this week and we are hoping for some good news soon.

On Tuesday we took Star for her regular check-up and tightening of screws. It sounds quite horrific, it looks quite horrific, but Star takes it in her stride. We do have some yowls and maybe even some tears sometimes, but overall she is, as her name suggests, a little Star. The Doctors and nurses are always taken aback by her reactions and I wondered why, then I found some posts after seeing a You Tube video by a young man who made his film to express his anxiety of wearing a halo. There were lots of comments from young people afterwards some positive, some not. It helped me to see a little of what my girl is going through seeing as she is not very good at expressing herself. Do watch the video if you have a minute to spare, it’s quite harrowing, but he does say that he didn’t adjust the halo himself or pull on it, that would be incredibly stupid, it’s just to show his anxiety.

Then on Thursday it was back to the hospital for a CT Scan. Now, Star is a pro at these, she’s had so many, but this time they had a new machine which threw her a little. Not only that but there was a smell. I’m not sure but I think it was the smell of new plastic? Star however, thought it was anaesthetic gas and began to panic, which then caused her to wretch. We made it through though. I gently reminded her that she had never been put to sleep in the CT scan. She knows the removal of the halo is imminent and has developed a big fear of anaesthetic.

So, we are nearing the end, hopefully. Once her consultant has examined her scan pictures he will decide when to take the halo off. Star is terrified but she knows she cannot keep it on forever. I’ve just watched a video of a young lady having hers taken off while awake, and although you could see she was terrified, she didn’t seem to feel too much pain. I really believe that Star could handle the pain, but I’m not so sure she could handle the anxiety of having it removed. It may be an option. I will talk to her consultant. To be honest, I don’t really want her to have the anaesthetic again, she has suffered so much since the last time. Now her hair is falling out which is probably an after affect of the anaesthetic. I know it serves a very good purpose, but it’s so toxic and horrible, I hate having to put all those chemicals in my little girls body. Maybe 15 minutes or so of stress would be a better option. I could be there holding her hand (and her daddy would be there too) and we could give her something for the pain. She would be home the same day, with no sickness and no more after effects. She may even get to keep her hair, what’s left of it.

I’m linking up with the lovely Jocelyn over at The Reading Residence, do pop along and join in with your Word of the Week, or see what others have been up to.