"A much better experience"

My son is 6 and autistic. Hes a very literal thinker and in addition has sensory processing disorder- over experiencing sensations and often interpreting touch as pain.

He struggles massively with getting procedures done on him, with historic trauma of having bloods and cannulas in the past and had a terrible experience having bloods taken where things were rushed and staff certainly not experienced in handling a kid with autism.

We unfortunately had to repeat them 2 weeks later. The respiratory nurses Marie and Lynda who are year round excellent for us were really understanding and keen to get conditions optimised for him and arranged play therapy, allowing him time to 'play' with all the terrifying objects and help us work out what was most scary, and were there any other options. 

The play therapists are great, they empowered him most importantly to feel less overwhelmed, and to feel he has some choices. 

We could plan the next samples more electively in the day ward.

We discussed some techniques with an OT who suggested some "heavy work" carrying a full backpack and to expend 20 mins outside climbing and running in the playground pre appointment. We then met Linda the play therapist on the ward who accompanied us in. 

Both she and the ward nurse- my apologies in forgetting her name, but a very competent nurse who had a student shadowing allowed him to take his time, removing his own plasters with Emla (this one of the major fear points for him) then to choose to sit/lie etc whilst the bled him We managed to convince him to sit still and let the nurse very efficiently draw bloods while he and the play therapist distract him.

This has changed my sons whole view of things happening to him. Don't get me wrong, I'm still dreading the next planned treatment- but much less than before this encounter in November! 

We're so grateful for everyone's patience and openness to doing things a little less ordinary. These accommodations will potentially change his whole view of health care, and reduce the ongoing effects of traumatic events where he loses sleep for weeks and months and fills his days being preoccupied with bad experiences happening again.

My tears probably conveyed it that day, but we are so grateful to the play therapist and the excellent blood taking, kid reassuring staff in the day ward and play therapy team. 

We're so lucky to be under great medical, nursing and auxilliary staff care. I feel hopeful that my son will experience an accepting and inclusive life where he can excell. He has lots of gifts to offer- especially when accommodations are made. That requires confident and open minded staff to try things that are less familiar, often not difficult options but so much better a fit for the neurodiverse kids coming through services and learning about the world they live in and how they expect to be treated.

Again, thanks a million to all the great staff at the kids hospital who helped my son have a much better experience. You wont realise how big an impact you really have had on his life.