Bedside Manners Needed

Ten years ago my last child was born premature. He did not have enough amniotic fluid to float around in so his lungs did not develop properly. His first x-rays showed that his lungs only took up one-third of his chest cavity. Each day was touch and go. The nurses began to call him the “energizer bunny” because he just kept going.

After a few days a C-scan was done on his chest. The radiologist and the lung doctor diagnosed my son with pulmonary lymphangiectasia – of which my NICU docs had never heard. I finally had a chance to ask the lung doctor about this diagnosis one afternoon. As he explained the disease to me, it was very clear that he was quite proud of himself for coming up with this diagnosis. As other parents came into the NICU to see their babies in dire circumstances nearby, this doctor, oblivious to them, continued on to tell me of the horrible outcome that would end the life of my child. He ended his explanation by telling me, “The only decision you need to make for your child is whether he dies at home or the hospital.”

I was reminded of this event in my life the other day, after reading state senators’ comments regarding funding education. When these senators question the intentions of school districts who have maintained fund balances in Dave Ramsey style as if there is something foolish in that, it shows that their ego is in the way and they don’t care who hears. When these senators, who have built their reputations for pushing an accountability system and End of Course Exams on the schools, will not relent even for a year to ease the funding crisis, then their egos are making decisions. When these government leaders refuse to let up on unfunded mandates, knowing full well that these will force the layoffs of certain school positions over others, then they are not for local control and do not believe school boards are capable of making decisions based on their community's interests.

When the doctor above spoke those words to me, my first thought was, “you don’t know the GOD I know.” I knew HOPE. But my second thought was, if my husband and I are going to experience the worst thing that has ever happened to us – the death of our child – it would NOT be with this doctor leading us.

This brings me to my point. If the current politicians, who will vote on the funding of Texas public education, continue to make comments showing their egos are more important than the people they are supposed to be helping – the children of Texas – they may find in the next election cycle that the parents of those children have decided to get a second opinion.

***A lung biopsy proved that my son did not have this horrible disease. He is ten now.