Wonder Wednesday: Health Care Workers

I was all prepared to write about sunshine and warmer weather for today’s Wonder post. But then yesterday we had a weird “fainting episode” complete with a knock on the noggin bad enough for my beloved pediatrician to suggest a trip to the Emergency Room.

Everything is fine. The Baby (who really needs a new name as he’s not even close to a baby) has a slick black eye but was all good and ready to attend his planetarium field trip today so really just a blip on the parent and child radar screen.

Let’s be real though: anytime your kid has to go to a hospital, be it for a small cut for stitches or a bigger neurological event, the panic and unease is awful even for a short time.

Yesterday though, from the second we left our car for free valet, every person we came in contact with did their utmost to make us both feel better. From the check in staff to nurses to doctors, each professional was more calm and kind than the next. My boy was scared and confused and ready to bolt at any second when we first arrived, but every single person who poked and prodded and questioned treated him with such gentleness and respect that I watched as he visibly relaxed, knowing he was in great hands.

We talk a lot about health care these days. Mostly, we complain about people trying to take it away, or how expensive it is to have. We also talk a lot about how it’s better everywhere else.

But you know what? Yesterday,  the school nurse, my pediatrician and every single employee of that hospital reminded me that the thing that is very right with American Health Care are the people who provide it. They are often given thankless tasks over long hours for likely not the greatest pay around and yet each one rose to the occasion to make use feel like we were the only patients who mattered yesterday, and I’m certain they did that for everyone on the floor. In a pretty crappy situation, having someone work hard for you makes it all that much better.

That, is pretty WONDERful.