It was an extremely long day at that point, we had logged 12 hours in the ER between two people in two days. He was small and hooked to an IV pole convinced if it was removed that his arm was going to fall off. You were there when it was put in and he screamed like he was being tortured by feral cats. He begged them to leave it in, take it home, to begin life with the IV pole. In his head it wasn't coming off, ever. He claimed the arm no longer worked that he has a "sad puncher arm" that he could only give "one handed hugs" and his love of Minecraft was finished because his now hooked up arm had ended his career. We got transferred to the TC chairs, from a nice comfy bed, he cried. Then promptly fell asleep exclaiming "don't touch my arm" as he wholeheartedly wagged his little finger at anyone who came close. You were kind hearted, first offered your seat to move over, so we could sit together. Then we met you, the teller of jokes with the golf ball sized elbow and a smile for days that makes everyone else smile because you just have too. The fist bump was nice, he liked that. We talked about you long after you left and your begotten elbow of doom. I've assured him it’s going to grow back, that you’re really a super hero with awesome regrowing powers. To the nice lady, with her mom who had a broken finger but ended up in the full arm cast, he loved you too it made the night go by easier. From one tired mom to another, I get you, more than you can ever understand. As we stand on the front line with our children.
And finally to the last woman standing as they removed her IV and she went home with her mom. Thank you, thank you for showing him that life didn't end when they took it out. That your arm, although in a cast, stayed on. Because life at six is hard enough, If only. #autismtimes
To the most amazing staff at Met ER, thank you. Although he screamed, it was short. But in the end, I explained to him that your superhero capes were just at the cleaners. Your squeaky hospital shoes and magical stethoscopes made life better for loads of people that night.