–a swollen area within body tissue containing an accumulation of pus –a tender mass filled with pus caused due to infection. I had left the procedure room sweating, red-faced a stench in my nose I was confident would never leave. I had images of the parents horrified faces imprinted in my brain. And the screamsContinue reading “Abscesses”
Tag Archives: child life specialist
Its been a Year
It’s been a year. She said it in a literal way. And in a heavy-sigh expressive way. It HAD been a year. A year since the world turned upside down. Or rather inside out. Where going out became dangerous. When we hunkered down, narrowed our circles and changed all our systems. When our coping strategiesContinue reading “Its been a Year”
Teddy Bears in Heaven
She cornered me in the hallway, wide-eyed. May I talk to you? Of course, I said. We leaned up against the wall as she smiled to her children behind her. I’m going to talk to Miss Crystal—you all go play in the room. Meet ya there in a few. My mind spun as I rememberedContinue reading “Teddy Bears in Heaven”
Crashing Cars
As a child life specialist and play therapist, I watch kids day-by-day, come into my playroom and repetitively work over the emotional points of suffering in their lives. They’ll crash cars together over and over again; they’ll play out horrific words spoken to them; awful things done to them. They’ll play out their deepest fears. Continue reading “Crashing Cars”
Just…
I closed the door, wiped my brow, sloshed some hand sanitizer in my hands, and checked the pager on my hip. I rushed to the trauma room, with IPAD and book in hands, bubbles in my pocket. I almost collided with my intern. Ugh, she said rolling her eyes. I just did the most annoyingContinue reading “Just…”
Steel Walls
I crouched on my knees with paper towels underneath them. I held my hair back with one hand, while I braced myself with another on the stall. My stomach turned, and my breakfast went in the opposite direction it was supposed to. I tried not to touch anything. Bathrooms are gross, but hospital bathrooms areContinue reading “Steel Walls”
Bleeding
I sat next to her in the crowded ER trauma room. She had her legs in stirrups. One hand was in mine, The other sat on her tummy with an IV giving her a blood transfusion first, fluids later. I sat very still while nurses and doctors bustled around us, Tossing meds to one anotherContinue reading “Bleeding”
My eyes hurt
I used to help with my whole body My whole being. I’d welcome with a smile and the bend of my knees to greet the child. Children would approach with an ease. They’d hug, they’d pull on my sleeve, they’d grab my hand. Now there is this awkward moment that stands between us. If IContinue reading “My eyes hurt”
Sincerely, Crystal 