Practical Tips - Preparing For Surgery

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Practical Tips - Preparing For Surgery

For most parents, seeing your child go through surgery is something that you have never had to experience before. It’s a scary thought for parents and to children it is horrifying. The thought of being admitted to the hospital can give a child nightmares. To help make it easier on you and the entire family, here is a list of things to help prepare for surgery.

A MONTH BEFORE SURGERY:

If you are traveling out of state for the surgery, begin coordinating travel plans. Do a search for the nearest airports and hotels to the hospital.
Many hotels close to large hospitals offer special rates for family members who are there to visit family in the hospital. Also in most areas there are Ronald Mc Donald houses that offer lodging and laundry facilities to those from out of town with loved ones in the hospital. The rates for this lodging is very affordable. At some hospitals it can cost as low as $10.00 a night. These facilities do tend to get filled up early so contact them as soon as you can.
There are many charities that offer free or discounted flights for sick children. Just a few of these charities are:
• Take Flight
• Miracle Flights
• Kids in Flight
• Green Flight
If there are other children in the household that will need a relative or a sitter to take care of them while you are in the hospital, now is a great time to start making those plans.
Many parents decide to purchase the child a stuffed animal or teddy bear early so it can accompany the child on the doctor’s visits preceding surgery. Also, many hospitals will let the child take their “hospital buddy” into the operating room with them.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY:

Begin thinking about what to pack. Most hospitals have shower facilities for the families. Travel size items like shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, and shaving cream work great for the days you are in the hospital. Also, pack a button down shirt for your child the day he or she comes home from the hospital.
If you have not done so already, consider starting your child a care page. These are GREAT forms of support for you and your child. The guestbook responses could be printed out and made into a little book for your child to take to the hospital for encouragement. Care pages are easy to update throughout and after surgery, and will automatically email updates to friends and extended family.
In the workplace, The Family Medical Leave Act is available for instances just like this. Most companies have different procedures for starting your leave, so make sure you contact your human resource department to get more information. Your workplace will give you forms to have your child’s doctors sign to verify the surgery. When you return to work after the surgery, you can take Intermittent Leave under FMLA to allow time off for your child’s follow up doctor’s appointments or MRI’s.

THE WEEK OF SURGERY

When packing your bags make sure to include some DVD’s, books, magazines and toys for your child. Having activities to keep him busy can provide your child a diversion during the long days in the hospital.
If you have not already, begin to start explaining to your child what is going to happen. Every parent will have to do this differently depending on your child’s age and his level of understanding.
Compile a list of doctor, pharmacy and relative phone numbers to have on hand.
Try to keep things as normal as possible for your child during this time. Reassure them that the doctor is going to fix them up, and that you will be there when they get out of surgery.

The Day Before Surgery:

Most hospitals will call you the day before to give you last minute instructions. Follow these carefully , as not doing so could lead to a serious delay or cancellation of the surgery.
Try to get as much rest as possible, as surgery day is very draining on the entire family.

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