#SickKidsMomStrong: Diane
For Diane, the empathy of others, laughter, and having a really good story to tell are the elements that have helped her get through hard times and what she relied on during those tough moments at SickKids.“I remember the moment my son, Johnny, had a terrible and devastating medical setback that no one had anticipated. His medical team managed to revive him and were bagging him until an OR could be ready for surgery. It was at this very moment that our other son, who was four at the time, was arriving at SickKids, expecting to have a fun visit with his baby brother. The boys’ other mom hadn’t yet arrived at the hospital, so I was on my own at the time. He was directed to the social worker’s office to wait and play with his toys, while I went back and forth between this terrible crisis with our baby and our eldest son. Each time, I’d literally wipe away the tears as I walked the hallway towards my eldest, and plaster a smile on my face so he wouldn’t be scared."
"We both laughed and, suddenly, I found I had the strength to carry on."
The capper to that day was when I went to the bathroom later in the NICU. I splashed water on my face, went to the bathroom, and flushed. And the toilet overflowed and started to flood the NICU. With everything going on, all I could do was laugh.”
This Mother’s Day, help us help SickKids moms. Give a Get Better Gift. www.getbettergifts.ca
