Mother's worst nightmare is when your child is admitted into hospital.
It was during our hols in London that he caught a virus. He was down with fever on Saturday 18th Feb. The fever did not subside until we went back to London on Monday 20th Feb. Subsequently on Tuesday, he got some rash starting from his face until his body. On Wednesday we went to see his pediatrician and Dr Paula advised us to go to the Emergency Unit in Policlinico Hospital.
We were informed that Norman needs to admitted immediately into the Infectious Unit on that Wednesday as they need to do further test on him. The initial prognosis was measles but they had to do blood test to confirm further.
Norman being sick was difficult for us as he will be very clingy and demanding. He refuse to sit in the baby cot or even put down. We had to hold him all the time. Being pregnant this was tiring me off. So, hubby had to take leave from work and help out to take care of him. For me, being in Rome means we have to rely on each other. There is no family support or immediate help available. Hubby agreed to stay overnight in the ward with Norman whilst I sleep at home. The good thing is the hospital is just one metro station away from our house. Bologna to Policlinico station is merely 10 mins away.
The next day, the blood tests showed negative for measles and rubella. That means we have to stay in the hospital for further blood test. Norman no longer has fever, but he still has running nose and diarrhea. A part of me feels a bit glad as he is warded so that there is help available from the doctors or nurses if needed. The IV drip makes him really weak and he refuse to eat. He only ate banana which I think the easiest food for him to swallow.
On Friday, 24th Feb as I was walking towards the Bologna metro station I tripped myself and fell down. I was rushing to the hospital to see Norman and hubby so that was clearly my mistake. I should have been more careful! As soon as I arrived to hospital I suddenly realised I don't fee any movement from my baby so I broke down and cry. I'm so worried as I don't know whether the baby is ok or not. I immediately went to the Gynae Emergency Unit to get myself checked.
I had to be rushed in an ambulance! Mind you I have never ride in an ambulance before so that was my first time. The emergency unit was very good considering I only requested them to check my baby's heart beat. They did a lot more tests including 3D scan and EKG of baby and me. I am so glad that the baby is safe. I guess the stress was getting to me...more than I realised. The stress of having my son admitted into the hospital was overwhelming that it was affecting my own health and pregnancy.
Finally, Norman is recovering. He no longer has diarrhea and fever. He started to eat more but doctor is still unsure what type of virus he had. So we were advised to stay in the hospital until Monday. However, on Sunday morning the doctor checked him again and told us that he is well enough and can be discharged. What a great relief to us! We can all rest and recover at home.
It is an experience to have Norman warded in the Rome hospital. I realised more than ever that I want to be back home in Malaysia. Eventhough the service in the hospital was good but I would prefer to be surrounded by a familiar environment back home. But this was definitely an experience for a lifetime that I hope would not be repeated.
It was during our hols in London that he caught a virus. He was down with fever on Saturday 18th Feb. The fever did not subside until we went back to London on Monday 20th Feb. Subsequently on Tuesday, he got some rash starting from his face until his body. On Wednesday we went to see his pediatrician and Dr Paula advised us to go to the Emergency Unit in Policlinico Hospital.
We were informed that Norman needs to admitted immediately into the Infectious Unit on that Wednesday as they need to do further test on him. The initial prognosis was measles but they had to do blood test to confirm further.
Norman being sick was difficult for us as he will be very clingy and demanding. He refuse to sit in the baby cot or even put down. We had to hold him all the time. Being pregnant this was tiring me off. So, hubby had to take leave from work and help out to take care of him. For me, being in Rome means we have to rely on each other. There is no family support or immediate help available. Hubby agreed to stay overnight in the ward with Norman whilst I sleep at home. The good thing is the hospital is just one metro station away from our house. Bologna to Policlinico station is merely 10 mins away.
The next day, the blood tests showed negative for measles and rubella. That means we have to stay in the hospital for further blood test. Norman no longer has fever, but he still has running nose and diarrhea. A part of me feels a bit glad as he is warded so that there is help available from the doctors or nurses if needed. The IV drip makes him really weak and he refuse to eat. He only ate banana which I think the easiest food for him to swallow.
On Friday, 24th Feb as I was walking towards the Bologna metro station I tripped myself and fell down. I was rushing to the hospital to see Norman and hubby so that was clearly my mistake. I should have been more careful! As soon as I arrived to hospital I suddenly realised I don't fee any movement from my baby so I broke down and cry. I'm so worried as I don't know whether the baby is ok or not. I immediately went to the Gynae Emergency Unit to get myself checked.
I had to be rushed in an ambulance! Mind you I have never ride in an ambulance before so that was my first time. The emergency unit was very good considering I only requested them to check my baby's heart beat. They did a lot more tests including 3D scan and EKG of baby and me. I am so glad that the baby is safe. I guess the stress was getting to me...more than I realised. The stress of having my son admitted into the hospital was overwhelming that it was affecting my own health and pregnancy.
Finally, Norman is recovering. He no longer has diarrhea and fever. He started to eat more but doctor is still unsure what type of virus he had. So we were advised to stay in the hospital until Monday. However, on Sunday morning the doctor checked him again and told us that he is well enough and can be discharged. What a great relief to us! We can all rest and recover at home.
It is an experience to have Norman warded in the Rome hospital. I realised more than ever that I want to be back home in Malaysia. Eventhough the service in the hospital was good but I would prefer to be surrounded by a familiar environment back home. But this was definitely an experience for a lifetime that I hope would not be repeated.
