Advisory Panel > Susan Longmore

Dr Visit & Flashback

27 Jul 10
 
Dr Visit & Flashback

It's 11.05pm and there’s a bang like thunder that wakes me up. Oh My God, not thunder ...not unless it cries!

Up we jump and run into Max, our eldest,  who’s nearly six. He’s fallen out of the bed and is trapped down the side between the locker. He looks grand and all seems to be ok until I spot a big open gash on his chin! I jump into my running gear (not jogging to hospital, it’s the only thing I could find) and off we go to Caredoc.

After a forty minute wait to leave the house, we finally get there. There is another family, mum, dad and toddler, in the car beside us. As I said before, and I don’t mean to harp on about it, but I think I’m a nice person. I’m fairly healthy, don’t smoke and I never did drugs!  I really wanted all my little beauties and would love another four if it wasn’t for the fear (and the expense!)

Anyway, more waiting, as the doctor is out on call. With that, the dad gets out of the car beside us for a quick puff. Next up, the mom gets out to join him for a cigarette, and wait for it; she is at least 8/9 months pregnant!! Standing there puffing away like a chimney, not a bother on her, and I can feel ‘the rage’ bubbling. We’re talking TK Maxx and Tesco rage (another story!), and I am playing the scene in my head, “Who do you think you are? I hope it all stays fine for you!” See, I told you the acceptance gene was missing! One minute I think I am doing so well, and then I realise how broken I am. Anyway, a few deep breaths and I park the fury. 

In we all go and it suddenly hits me that I was here exactly the same day last year! I had been vomiting profusely and was lying on the bathroom floor for an hour before I could muster up the energy to get to the doctor. When I finally made it in to him he kept asking, “Hew meent  timmes u bez seeck?”, to which I replied,  “Over 30, maybe 100, if retching counts!” Then big panic, they must get me to the maternity hospital that second!  However, the reality was I was too sick to travel so I lay there for another six hours before we left, vomiting all the way.

Once there, I am quickly admitted with horrific kidney infection, put on a lovely drip, and given medicine. The mad memories come flooding back. They scanned me four times in thirty-six hours! Everything was great, perfect even. The baby was right on schedule, same size as my previous two (info pulled from hospital data). The reality was Poppy ended up being my biggest! After two days, I go home happy, to my other Prince and Princess.

It’s not long then till I’m off for my lovely big scan in a private clinic. Again, all is perfect, size, date, spine, femur, all brill, not a sniff of anything at all! I even get a lovely DVD to bring home and watch with popcorn!! Four more scans follow and all is still great! Which begs the question, “How can you miss such an anomaly?”

But, would I really have wanted to know? I absolutely loved being pregnant. As I said earlier, I would happily have another four, if it wasn’t for the reasons I mentioned! So how would I have felt if I knew? Devastated? Sure I felt that anyway, so at least I was ecstatic for the whole pregnancy!

Anyway, back to poor Max, there we are and this older man walks in and he’s wearing a red jumper, wine cords, and maroon shoes that aren’t tied. He’s about 7 foot tall with white hair, a beard, and a very grey complexion. He barks 10 times in a row, goes blue(ish), and then there’s a click. I turn around to make sure he hasn’t keeled over and I see his false teeth are out on the end of his tongue! Please, oh please, don’t let Max turn around! He turns around (of course!) and the man quickly clicks them back in to which Max shouts, “He looks like Superman’s dad! He should go over and chat to Mr. Kai!!!”

Eventually after more madness, Max gets stitched up and I take him home to Lovely Lucy, Princess Poppy, and sleeping daddy - the lucky things! 

 © Sue Longmore, DSC 2010

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Well done you superstar! x


Posted on July 27, 2010
by Clair

For the same reason, I thank God that we didn't picked up the "anomaly" during the scans. I would have been devastated, might even abort the pregnancy. (given the abundance of online info abt what could go wrong, my fear would have overcome my self) Our query was, what would be our next step if we picked up the DS sign. Are we going to terminate the pregnancy? If no, why bother to find out! Just enjoy the pregnancy until the baby comes. And thank God for that decision made. My special edition baby is such a precious jewel, and I'm glad I enjoy my pregnancy, her delivery and every moment of her presence.


Posted on July 28, 2010
by Joyce Teoh

Hey Susan

Can't wait for the rest :) well done X


Posted on July 29, 2010
by jean Redmond Phelan
 

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