Novalie is truly made of tough stuff.  I'd be out the door weeks ago!  She's been through so much and still maintains a happy cheery disposition.  I think meeting other patients and showing them the ropes gives her ego a needed boost.  Don't get me wrong.  She has her strong-willed moments of anger and resistance.  But lately, it's been such a calm and happy time for her.

She has a PICC line which is a long term IV.  Medicine infuses 24/7 via this PICC line and it's connected to a pole.  She pushes or drags her pole with such confidence and ease.  The insertion site in her arm needs to be cleansed and the dressing needs to be changed frequently.  It's kept clean with alcohol or betadine swabs (there are tears involved here).  Her skin reacts with "the itchies" from the dressing tape.  At night, she scratches the site and then it needs to be changed even more often.  A source of frustration for her.

There are other patients without the need for a pole and she gets upset at this.  She'll say things like, " Why do I need a pole and so and so doesn't."  "Why does so and so get to go home and I don't.  It's not fair!"  We validate her feelings.  And say something like," all patients are different and you won't need a pole forever and you won't be here forever."  (sure feels like it to me somedays) But it's the fact that she's not in control of her new environment.  Which is unsettling for her.  Understandably! 

So, we put signs on her door that say "Please knock, thank you" and another says "Family time, please come back later if  possible"  This gives her more control over her turf.  My sisters are great.  They even ask her where she wants everyone to sit in her room.  The more decisions she makes, the more control she has, the more content she is!

It's amazing that she still has a mind for fun and silliness. She's a kid, right!!  There's a game of tag circulating throughout the building thanks to Novalie.  She loves to hear who tagged whom.  She especially loves tagging the more serious of employees.  Ya know, the new doctor who hasn't worked with kids much.  Very cute.

We're so thankful for these good times and that she can laugh daily. 

Thank you for all your support on the guestbook and emails and packages in the mail.

With Love,
Kathy & Thanh