DNA Tan

Rei hospitalised

Apart from having to deliver my 3 babies, I have never needed to be warded in a hospital. However, my 3 kids didn't seem to inherit my constitution and all needed some form of serious medical attention even at their tender age. This time, it was Rei who needed to be admitted for croup and a high level of platelets.

Croup is a viral infection of the vocal chords, voice box and windpipe. It is usually part of a cold. It is usually worse in children under 3 years of age. Due to the infection, Rei's platelets count has also doubled and that lies some unknown danger which we will soon find out whether is it entirely because of the infection or is there any other reasons causing the conditon.

Rei is a cradle addict and he was unable to get to sleep while he was at the hospital. Daddy and Mummy were both extremely exhausted as they both had very little sleep previously due to Donovan's erractic sleeping patterns. As the single-bedded rooms are all filled up, we had no choice but to settle for a four-bedded one instead. But Mummy and Daddy knew Rei will kick up a real fuss as he can't sleep without his cradle and requested repeatedly to upgrade to a single-bedded room so that we can contain his crying without disturbing other patients. Finally they relented and found us a room in the Sleep Disorder Centre, how uncannily sarcastic it was.

The night was indeed horrible with his marathon crying and Mummy's ears couldn't quite get used to the silence when Rei eventually slept by 730am in the morning. The nebelizer and one other medicine that opens up the airway seemed to worked and Rei coughed very minimally. His fever never returned and his appetite increased. So we begged the doctor to discharge him so that he can have proper rest at home, promising that we'll be at their beck and call whenever they need Rei back for tests and stuff.

It wasn't easy staying at the hospital leaving 2 other boys at home. They sure missed Daddy and Mummy like crazy and cried when they heard our voices over the phone when we called. Donovan would say,"Mummy I want you to come back...." and I'll be so guilty. Well, at least I spent some alone time with Rei, whom I usually shortchange.