Poppy’s Day
by Kate, Poppy’s mum
Mornings are getting tougher the older she gets. Sleep is constantly broken throughout the night when she is uncomfortable or the pain meds need topping up, so waking her at 6am when she is finally sound asleep feels just so unfair. There are tears that often lead to shouting before she gives in and finally wakes up to come and do dressings. We start with the usual concoction of medicine; pain relief and supplements. She never feels like breakfast after meds as she feels sick so then the gentle persuasion and encouragement to have something goes on for the next hour while I change dressings. We check her all over for new blisters and change any weepy wounds, replace bandages and fully redress hands and feet. This is often done in silence as she is so tired and I just want to get through it quickly for her sake.
Once dressed she then starts to eat. Her throat is probably the worst it’s been. She had a dilatation a couple of months ago but she’s not eaten the same since. Psychologically the fear of choking again or damaging her throat further have caused so much more anxiety around eating. She settles on a smoothie and a glass of milk and we get in the car. I drive her to school. She desperately wants to go with her friends but the logistics of getting on a bus with her wheelchair and the added journey time just make mornings even more difficult.
