#100WCGU – Wk61 – Prompt: …I woke with another headache… – 105 words – “Jenna”
October 9, 2012
Jenna’s words haunt me every day, “Daddy, I woke with another headache.”
I knew this was more than a simple case of measles. My once lively Jenna was listless, her temperature high.
Day after day I sat by her hospital bed, my gloved hand holding hers afraid if I let go she would slip away. It was only measles. I didn’t know it could result in encephalitis.
One morning, I stirred on my bedside seat.
“Daddy, I’m hungry.”
Such simple words, such incredible joy.
Jenna doesn’t walk as well as before but she knows I’ll be there when she needs me, her hand in mine.
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Another sweet one. I remember the joy of those words from my own girl after simple colds or flu.
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While a teacher a number of years ago, I also worked as a child care worker in a hospital’s children’s ward. Sometimes we weren’t always so lucky with little ones but the many more successes always brought happiness.
That was lovely!
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Even when a student of mine was sick, I was worried until I hear they were well again.
So beautifully written and *huge hugs* so very moving
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When children recover from a serious illness, it reminds us how much we should treasure them.
nicely done…so much pain and concern behind this simple image. nicely done.
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I have known people who suffer this experience. I can remember one saying he never realised how unimportant issues once so important were when you have a seriously ill child.
A real journey, in so few words. And moving.
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Any parent who has had a seriously ill child would know the feeling.
Beautifully written. This feels so real – is it a true story?
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This wasn’t a specifically true story but I know some parents facing this battle and hoping their child recovers. Unfortunately their daughter has a more serious battle ahead.
Excellent take. Well written and poignant. The father appears to still be affected by the trauma – do hope it’s not you.
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I have never had this experience, thankfully, but I know those who have.
Very real, and probably rather scary as well, when one has to rush their little ones to the hospital.
Very well done! Hope she is doing better now!
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It would be frightening knowing your child is so ill yet you can do nothing but wait.
Terrifying but touching story. Can feel the father’s worry and love for his daughter.
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It would be very hard to face this and know you can only wait and see.
We feel so helpless when our children are sick! And I wish the people who resist immunizing their children would at least inform themselves about the possible complications of measles…I once met a boy who, I was assured, had been perfectly normal before measles encephalitis. Never normal again.
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Sad to say, I knew a 10 year old hospitalised for another complaint. Six month later the lively boy had become one of special needs due to the measles experience. This and similar cases with seriously ill children were encounters I had when working weekends as a child care worker in a hospital children’s ward. Luckily, the boy was a rare case.