What makes a doctor become a doctor?

What makes a nurse become a nurse? What makes a surgeon become a surgeon?

Is the love for the job, the fact they want to save lives?  Do they only concentrate on the patient in front of them?

They should, right? After all that is the most important part, they are saving lives?!

But, were it the compassion? Is it really just a ‘job’ to them? Of course, I am not talking about everyone we have met. But there are some that sadly damage the reputation of those that I am talking about.

The cardiologist who operated little baby Aiyála this morning was lovely, warm and filled us with confidence and positivity.

We have been told that this Maternity Hospital here in Malaga, has an excellent reputation, which is so good to hear. After all, the medical care is the most important thing, but………………..

Why, did nobody tell Kyla what to do in the room where the milk is expressed and what to do with it, other than stick the small plastic bottle in her handbag?

Why, did nobody show Kyla how the baby needs to be taken out of the plastic cot? (not an easy task, when trying to avoid the many tubes getting stuck or tangled)

Why, did nobody tell Kyla that the uncomfortable upright plastic chair next to the baby, could be reclined, to make it more comfortable when trying to nurse the baby?

Why, did nobody tell Kyla who was doing what with the baby? (people in different coloured uniforms appear without saying a word, changing tubes, settings etc)

Why, did nobody take Kyla to the intensive care unit to show her where the baby was? Explain what the wires meant? (Quite frightening when you see your baby for the first time all ‘wired up’)

Why, is a message given to the parents, purely factional without any empathy? ( first time parents, with a 4 day old baby , having undergone a 3-4 hour heart operation)

Kyla and Dan were met by a new doctor who took over the evening shift, who did not know Aiyála’s name or Kyla and Dan’s name, who without any introduction  or eye contact, delivered the following message: 

‘Tonight is critical, she is stable at the moment, but, if she needs any emergency heart surgery they will call you. The valve seems to be open and closing, but this could change, she is on the ventilator until we can confirm that everything is functioning’.  

Whilst  the update was great, the harsh way in which the message was delivered could have reduced the more faint hearted to tears..

Kyla asked:  ‘Is she stable?’, ‘yes, for now’

‘Did she have a scan?’, ‘yes’

‘Is the valve working, i.e. opening and closing?’, ‘yes but, it could fail’

He did volunteer: ‘We had to give her help to pee, she has a catheter’. Kyla had to question if that is normal to which he said ‘Si’. (why mention it then?)

We are all well aware that our little baby has had a massive operation and of course the next 48 hours are crucial, I guess it is the bedside manner, or lack of that makes this so much harder. Just a little bit of compassion would go a long way, but clearly that is too much to ask.

Tomorrow is another big day, another mile stone to reach.