Prepare for a sappier than normal post.
I have often thought about how I am glad I was born when I was. I really enjoy modern technology. I am glad that even though my parents live over 500 miles away I can drive to see them in one (long) day. I think microwaves are amazing. I love that I can chat with Michael on my computer while he is at work. Being a parent without disposable diapers, wet wipes and onesies would be much more of a hassle. I'm sure I would have survived living without all these conveniences, but I'm glad I don't have to.
Last week a nasty virus made its way through our family. Everyone was affected somewhat but it hit Parker especially hard. After three days of being very sick Parker ended up in the hospital because he was extremely dehydrated. It took 7 different people at two and half hours and about 10 different pokes to successfully get an IV into him (he was so dehydrated it was very difficult to find a vein.)
As the nurses were trying to get an IV into Parker I thought of my parents at the hospital about 30 years ago, in a much more serious situation, with my sister Darcy. When she was two she was diagnosed with leukemia. Her chance of survival were not incredibly high. I remember the story of one of the first times she was in the hospital and they poked her over 20 times before they were able to get an IV in. I remember my mom saying how helpless she felt and how hard it was to watch them hurt her little girl even though they were trying to make her better. As I sat on the hospital holding Parker on my lap, keeping the barf bag near his mouth while the nurses poked and prodded him, I got a glimpse of what my parents went through with my sister for several years. Despite the odds Darcy made a full recovery and now spends her time editing, geocaching and convincing my children that there is more than one name for what they call pajamas.
After about 24 hours of having an IV pump fluids him Parker was feeling much better. When I had to follow him around the pediatric floor of the hospital with his IV stand I knew he was ready to come home. After a day or two of resting and gradually eating more than crackers and apple juice Parker was back to normal.
But if we had lived a hundred years ago, or in a different part of the world today this story could have ended with Parker dying of the flu instead of spending a day in the hospital, in a private room watching Tarzan over and over, then going home and fully recovering. I know that I am very lucky that my children haven't had any serious health problems. And I am grateful for this. I also know that this might not always be true. I have friends and family who have spent many days at a hospital with their sick children. They are in my thoughts and prayers. And even with the amazing technology we have sometimes we still lose someone we love.
As far as medical technolgy goes I don't think getting an IV of fluids is very tricky. But it saved his life. Yes I am glad I live now when I can watch Netflix from my bluray player and send my dad pictures of my kids from my phone. But I am even more glad to be alive during a time of immunizations, chemotherapy, antibiotics and other lifesaving medical technology. I am glad loosing children in an accident or disease is a rare tragedy and not something that most woman have to deal with. I know this is still not the case throughout the world and I do my best to support the organzations and people who are fighting to change this.
So here is to technology, both medical and otherwise, and all the wonderful things it brings to my life.
