PICU parent hour

Every Thursday, the Pediatric ICU at Primary Children's host a luncheon for the parents of patients in the PICU. Each week they have a different speaker to give information and assist with having a child in the ICU. Well, today, I was the speaker. I didn't give a speech so much as I talked with the other parents there. There were two families that should not be return customers, another mom who was waiting to find out if she would and a fourth that I knew from when Bridger and I were living in the PICU. I hadn't really written down waht I would discuss and since it was a smaller group, I decided it would be better to get a dialogue started. Each of the parents told me the story of how they ended up in the PICU and how their child was currently doing. One of the families was actually vacationing from Houston when their child became violently ill. I had talked with the dad about how Bridger had died at Texas Children's last summer. At the end, I don't know if I served the purpose I was signed up for, but we discussed the stressors of ICU life and how to cope. I hope that my being there and caring about their stories helped to provide some amount of relief to each of them. I know that me sharing my story about my beautiful son helps me get through the days. On a side note, Bridger's physical therapist gave a presentation today in which she used Bridger as an example. I like to think that it was because he was her STAR pupil. She will be sharing the information with me as I start speaking at different places to help spread CHD awareness. Bridger, I miss you so very much! It seems as though just yesterday I was holding you, but at the same time it feels as though it has been an eternity. I hope that you are behaving for grandma Jean, she will tell me if you are being a turkey! Make sure she gives you some of her yummy waffles if you like to eat now. I love you! I love you! I love you!