ETB 57: Navigating Hospitalization ~ Thank God for CNAs

ETB 57: When your child is hospitalized, what means of comfort do you find? As a mother who's been down this road with my son Josiah, I will share how the power of pen helped me through those dark times. Transcribing our story and drawing strength from those lines, I found a way to navigate the painfully frequent hospitalizations. The silver lining we discovered in this storm cloud was the round-the-clock care provided by CNAs. Their gift of caregiving brought the serenity our family needed, and they turned into our lifeline.

This episode isn't just about our journey, but also celebrates the CNAs who make a significant difference. Being a parent to a child with medical needs is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. I'll take you through a personal anecdote, where the support of a CNA allowed me a much-needed respite. It's a story that could resonate with many of you out there. Remember, support and help are always available. So, join me and let's walk this path together, find inspiration, share a few laughs, shed a few tears, and above all, help each other through.

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey there, I'm Sandy Deppish, and this is the Embrace
the Blessing podcast.
Each week, I talk with a parentwho has a child with a
disability.
They share their biggestchallenge, their greatest joy
and their hopes and dreams forthe future.
You'll learn about resourcesavailable to you and discover
helpful hints and tips.
If you want to be inspired andencouraged, stick around.

(00:28):
Let's walk the road lesstraveled together.
Hey guys, welcome back toanother episode.
This one is going to be a blogpost that was written back.
In goodness, how long ago did Iwrite this one?
I don't know.
You know I absolutely loveblogging.

(00:52):
I haven't done it in such along time.
I've been using podcastepisodes on my blog for the last
year and a half and I reallyneed to get back to writing
because it is such a catharticexperience.
I think I've said this before,but if you are in it in the
trenches, dealing with a childwith intense support needs even
minimal support needs thatrequires more of you than you're

(01:15):
able to give some days and youare overwhelmed and exhausted.
I highly encourage you to writedown what's happening.
Write down the events that arehappening in your life, write
down how you're feeling,whatever it takes to get that
out of you and somewhere else.
It's awesome to be able to lookback on that years later.
It's encouraging to know thatyou will get through those times

(01:37):
, and it just really made adifference for me.
Not that you have to start yourown blog.
If you'd like to go for it, I'dbe happy to show you how to do
it.
It's really easy.
But just get it out on paper sothat you can let go of it and
be the best you can possibly bein the moment.
This was written back inSeptember 25 of 2015.

(01:59):
It's called we Never Knew.
Josiah has been hospitalized agazillion times in his 13 years
of life.
Many of those hospitalizationstook place between the ages of
zero and three, with quite a fewmore sprinkled in as he grew.
Those were the days when I kepta bag packed in my closet at
all times, just in case we wouldneed to get him to the ER and

(02:21):
hurry.
Those were the days when Josiahdidn't push me out of the room
and slam the door in my face.
Maybe he wanted to, who knows.
Having Josiah in the hospital isnever easy.
If you have a child who hasspent any time in one, you know
exactly what I mean it totallydisrupts everything.
Your life is put on hold for awhile and you adopt a new normal

(02:43):
.
When Josiah was quite young,all five kids were living at
home with us.
We were homeschoolers.
We spent practically everywaking minute of every day
together.
When Josiah had to behospitalized, I was always with
him.
It's hard to be a homeschoolingfamily when the teacher is
absent a lot.
We didn't homeschool for longafter Josiah was born.

(03:03):
Josiah's siblings have spentmany hours in emergency waiting
rooms.
They've spent many hours inJosiah's hospital rooms.
They've witnessed firsthand thechanges that occur when a
sibling is sick and mom or dadhas to be away from home for
long stretches of time.
It's not easy.
It's character building, butnot easy.
Josiah was in the hospital fivemonths ago.

(03:24):
He was there for a week.
Rick and I took turns stayingwith him, so he was never alone.
Josiah can't really ever bealone because he needs help with
just about everything.
Our two kids still living athome are now so familiar with
the disruption of life whenJosiah is in the hospital.
I really don't think it evenfaze them.
It's just what has to be done.
Rick and I are happy to be ableto be there for Josiah, just as

(03:47):
we would for any of ourchildren.
Josiah has been hospitalized somany times.
We should have just built awing onto one of those hospitals
and all moved in when he wasborn.
It would have made things somuch easier.
Our family would have remainedintact without the lengthy
separations we have endured overthe years.
Imagine our surprise then whenwe learned just a few weeks ago

(04:09):
hospitals have sitters who willstay with the child so mom and
dad can have a break.
We never knew.
When a nurse casually mentionedit to us, I didn't believe her.
She said she could arrange forsomeone to be with him for a few
hours.
I figured it was a run home,grab a nap, take a quick shower
and get right back here kind ofoffer.

(04:31):
But she said someone could staywith Josiah from 7pm to 7am.
Was she kidding?
I could sleep in my own bed allthrough the night with no
interruptions.
I jumped all over that,Thinking it was a one-time
proposition.
I was elated.
I kept thanking her and tellingher what a blessing this was

(04:52):
and how much it would mean to us.
Don't quote me on this, becausemaybe I have it wrong and maybe
it's just for certain kids whorequire more than others.
But next came the best part.
She said a sitter could bearranged for Josiah 24-7.
I nearly passed out.
They were being offered thechance to leave our precious son

(05:13):
in the hands of lovingprofessionals who would care for
him and help him so we couldrest.
Praise God, without thisincredible gift I don't think
I'd be sane today.
These CNAs certified nursingassistants are among some of the
sweetest, most compassionatepeople I've ever met.
Keep in mind, the first fewwere staying with Josiah when he

(05:35):
was still bouncing off thewalls, doing flips on his bed
and trying to rip the TV off thewall.
These people are amazing.
Whatever they get paid, itshould be tripled.
When Josiah was transferred tothe hospital he's in now, the
same service was offered.
He has a CNA with him from 7 amto 7 pm and then a new one

(05:55):
comes in for the night shift.
We can call and get reports onhis day, learn about his
medications and activity leveland feel connected to him even
when we can't physically bethere Such a huge blessing.
It is never my desire to beaway from Josiah for long
periods of time, but with a 4-6week stay it would be impossible

(06:16):
to be with him the entire time.
So to all those parents outthere who have children in
hospitals frequently, if younever knew about this feature,
now you do Take advantage of it.
Get some rest and take care ofyourself and your family.
They need you to be your best.
And to all you CNAs out there,thank you for what you do.

(06:37):
You are making a positiveimpact on so many lives.
Thank you for lovingly caringfor our kids, for being a
comforting presence and forbeing a friend.
I know firsthand your job isnot easy.
Your hours are long and yourpay probably is not what it
should be.
If I could hug each and everyone of you and thank you in
person, I would.

(06:58):
From Josiah and his family, wejust want to say God bless you
for standing in the gap, and oneof these days soon, I'm going
to bring you some cake balls.
So there you have it.
For those of you who havechildren, who frequent hospitals
and you stay for extendedperiods of time if you did not
know about this, I pray it isstill available Seek out

(07:20):
somebody at the hospital whoknows and ask them if you can
have a CNA.
Come and sit with your child sothat you can just have a little
bit of time alone.
Even if it means running downto the coffee shop and sitting
outside with a warm cup ofcoffee on a chilly day or a nice
cool smoothie on a hot day,whatever it is, you might need

(07:43):
some time alone and this mightbe something that would really
be a blessing for you.
I hope it's still available.
I hope you're able to takeadvantage of it, because I know
it will make a difference.
Thanks for listening to theEmbrace the Blessing podcast.
Visit embracetheblessingcomslash podcast for show notes and
links to any resourcesmentioned.

(08:03):
If this has been beneficial toyou, please share it with a
friend or post it on your socialmedia pages.
Join me next Wednesday for moreinspiring stories from people
just like you.