Being Prepared for the "What If's"

I spent about 5 years as a cub scout leader and cubmaster for my boy's Cub Scout group.  It was a lot of fun but I am thinking I did not take the "Be Prepared" motto serious enough when it comes to what to do if your kids get sick.

Kagan has cancer but I know that many other families have situations where their children or grandchildren have been hospitalized for other illness and diseases.  We just got that scary "C word"; but I know that other people have walked in our shoes for other reasons.   Yet, no one really ever told me how to get prepared for your kid getting sick.  I assume they just don't want to think about it or wish it on someone so it is just a Taboo subject of sorts. 

In all that we are doing, we are taking a fast track course of becoming prepared and learning the ropes of what needs to be done to stay on top of everything. So I thought that I would share with you a few things that we have learned in this process that might help someone in the same situation to be prepared before you need it. 

Hospital Bag

I love my husband but he is not a packer under pressure when it comes to hospital bags!  When we went to the hospital I never left and had to rely on him to pack me a bag and bring it to me.   I got 5 night gowns (never wore a night gown in hospital one day) and then some clothes that I had not worn in almost two years.  He then just opened random drawers and pulled out anything that he thought that Kagan and I would need.  Let's just leave it at he did not need to bring me the kitchen sink but it might have been put into that bag.

I have seen this packing skill once before when I left work late on the way to a ladies retreat and Kaleb had to pack me a bag and bring it to me at the office so that I would not be late.  Well, I had a few gowns then to for an over night stay and no clothes.  Luckily on that trip I got to go on a mini-shopping spree.

That is when I decided to make Kaleb a packing list of things to bring me when/if we ever went to the hospital again without advanced notice.  I have even sectioned off a place in my close where he could just pull from "approved outfits" that would work during a hospital stay.

This will take some stress off of him and allow me to walk down the hospital corridor with some dignity of sorts!   I am pretty sure non-patients walking around in a gown (even without the hiney showing) is not favored! 

The list looks something like this:

x pairs of comfortable pants
x t-shirts
1 pair flip flops
socks (hospital rooms get cold)
1 sleeping pant/shirt
x pairs of panties
Jacket (it really gets cold)
small blanket
Make-Up Bag  ( I have it packed all the time)
Toiletry Bag (packed with smaller sizes of shampoo, soaps, deodarant, etc. - I will be sprucing up this bag for a on the go bag that stays always packed).
Personal items - like paper, pen, bible, computer, etc. 

Common sense stuff but things you just don't think of once you are rushing to a hospital.

Tape the list to the back of your closet door and anyone can pack a bag for you, if needed.

Fun Things

If you are going to be in the hospital for awhile there is definately the need for some things for boredom breakers.  Card games, yahtzee dice and score pad, 10,000 dice, skip-bo,etc

At our hospital you can also bring your PS3 or game station.  One of our friends, Justin, brought Kagan his during his first hospital stay.  I would say it was the best thing Kagan could have had brought to him. I would have just never known you could  so it is nice to know you can.

You can bring ANYTHING that makes you feel comfortable for your kids.  If they want it, they can likely have it and the nursing staff will go out of their way to help you get it done if needed. 

I just wish I knew this the first time so that I was not so reluctant to ask the nurses.

I got a very cute Thirty-One utility bag from my friend Heather that has been perfect for loading up with these "fun things" to make the hospital stay a little more bearable on the next trips.

MEDICAL BOOK

I wish that someone would have encouraged me to keep my kids medical records in a binder.  I mean I kept everything when they were infants and toddlers but then it just kinda gets away from you.  I will forever keep everything in once place from now on. 

It is surprising how much information is needed that can be answered from these records. 

DON'T FORGET TO ASK FOR EVERY RECORD!!!

Medical Binder

I never knew you could get a copy of every single record the hospital, doctor or etc. has on your kids.  As soon as CAT scan is completed, tell them you want a copy of the radiologist report.    If your kid has blood test, get a copy of the results.  You can get a pathology final report, test report, doctor's report, etc.  All written and the very words that the next doctor or nurse is going to look at when they see your child.

We have already corrected and found mistakes that had I not had my book with me we would have not been able to tell the doctor.  

Our book was given to us at the hospital called a Hope Binder.  It was great because it was already set up with things related to Kagan's situation but I am making one for Kade and Kenadee.  I prayer I NEVER need them with regards to an urgent situation but if I do, I have everything right there.

This binder also has pages of business card holders. Everyone you meet with gives you a business card. A nice place for when you are calling them, need address for insurance companies, etc. 

Lastly, ours is broken down into tabs. Nice way to organize and you can add more when/if you need it.

AFLAC

If you don't have it, get it.  Anyone can get it and it does not have to be something your employer offers.  By far the best proactive decision I made.

This is one of those you can't do later things but if you have before hand it will be a great help.

http://www.aflac.com/


SCRIPTURE

Find a scripture and hold on to dear life for God's promise to you!  It amazes me how no matter how many times that you have read the bible when you are in a situation a new scripture pops onto your heart with a new meaning.  It is God's whisper into the storm that gives you a life boat to carry yourself thru the storm with.

 DON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS RIGHT AWAY


There are so many things coming your way that you are having to decide.  If it is something that has to be dealt with that can wait (unlike medical decisions) then wait.  I found that several things I made quick decisions on were things that I might have changed if I had waited a little time to react.

I am sure there are many other things that I could say but these are just a few things that really have been so important to me that I wanted to share.  A little bit of preparedness now might go a long way later.