Handling Hospital Visits - Fear #2:

Being Away from Friends, Family, and Pets

It's hard to be away from the people you love. Luckily, hospitals have visiting hours so your friends and family can come to see you, and once the doctor says it's okay for you to have visitors, anyone can drop by. Your visitors can bring a deck of cards, puzzles, a photo of your pet, or anything else to get your mind off your hospital stay. It's not a good idea, though, to have a whole bunch of people in your hospital room all at once because you'll probably get worn out.

Spending the night. In some hospitals, parents can visit whenever they want, and family members usually are allowed longer visiting hours. If your room is big enough, the nurses may be able to provide a fold-up bed so you can have a parent stay overnight. You'll feel a lot better just knowing someone you love is close by.

Keep in touch by phone. You may discover that some of your friends do not want to visit you in the hospital. While this may hurt your feelings, try to understand. Perhaps they have only had bad experiences in hospitals. Your friends may also not be able to visit you because they have no way of getting to the hospital. You'll most likely have a phone in your room, so you can make and receive calls whenever you want. Long distance calls are added to your hospital bill, so check with your parents first.

Remind yourself that your stay is temporary. You won't be in the hospital forever, and soon you'll be back at home with the people you love. Take this time to relax, regain your strength, and get better.

© From Young People and Chronic Illness: True Stories, Help, and Hope by Kelly Huegel.
©1998 Free Spirit Publishing, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.