Re: Dear Abby:

[Guest guest]

Very much so!

Hugs,

Gail

"The Earth is the insane asylum for the rest of universe"

“Normal is just a setting on the washing machine.†-BumperSnickerz. ********************************************************************Mom to , 11/28/98 - ADHD/ODD/SIDand , 02/02/02 - Congenital Scoliosis, VATER Association (vertebral and renal anomalies), Torticollis, Klippel Feil Syndrome, Fused Ribs, First VEPTR Recipient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital 3/21/05; Spitz Nevus removal: 11/26/07 & 2/11/08; VEPTR Expansions: 11/05, 04/20/06, 6/12/08 and 8/14/09 and EARLY SUMMER 2010;

Subject: Re: Dear Abby:To: infantile_scoliosis Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 11:14 AM

Thanks hon. So important... .. Just reading this made my hands sweat...Igot emotional too. Sort of like our hospital visit a couple weeks ago. Funny, how an article, a smell, a photo or anything can take you rightback to that scary day.HRH> I am posting this as a gentle reminder to all of us when we bring our> children in for surgery, casting etc. WE (and this includes grandma,> grandpa, aunts, uncles, etc) need to be the strong one until we leave the> procedure room!> > By Abigail Van Buren Abigail Van Buren – Tue Feb 2, 2:16 am ET> > DEAR ABBY: I am writing this as a mother of four and an operating room> nurse for 30 years. Once again, I had to pull a crying mother from her> child so I could take the child into the operating room.>> I understand that a child having surgery is upsetting and stressful.

My> own children have had to have surgical procedures done, so I know the> feeling. But if I can help parents understand one thing, it would be that> the child looks to the parent for support. If the mother is crying and> clinging at the bedside, the message the child receives is: If Mom is that> upset, something bad must be about to happen to me.> No one is implying that you do not love your child or you are not worried> about him or her, but it does no one any good if you have to be peeled off> your child. Please send your little one off with kisses and encouraging> words, and the child will be a little less frightened. -- WISCONSIN R.N.> > DEAR WISCONSIN R.N.: I'm printing your letter verbatim. As traumatic as> sending a child into surgery can be for both parent and child, the words a> child needs to hear are, "You'll be going to sleep, and when you wake

up,> Mommy will be right here. I love you. Now give me a kiss." For the child's> sake, venting for stress relief should be saved for the waiting room.>>> Gail> > "The Earth is the insane asylum for the rest of universe">> “Normal is just a setting on the washing machine.†-BumperSnickerz.> ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* **> Mom to , 11/28/98 - ADHD/ODD/SID> and , 02/02/02 - Congenital Scoliosis, VATER Association (vertebral> and renal anomalies), Torticollis, Klippel Feil Syndrome, Fused Ribs,> First VEPTR Recipient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital 3/21/05; Spitz> Nevus removal: 11/26/07 & 2/11/08; VEPTR Expansions: 11/05, 04/20/06,> 6/12/08 and 8/14/09 and EARLY SUMMER 2010;>>>__________________________________________________