The blur of days at Columbia Children's Hospital

Thursday 5am we arrived at our new "home" for the next week.  Pediatric ICU at Columbia.  Anny had a drain put in her head to relieve some of the pressure within a few hours of arrival at the hospital.  While it was less than beautiful to look at, it really didn't seem to bother Anny at all and she was in her usual spiritual chipper mood for the next few days.

We had some moments where she realized what was actually going on and I tried to explain to her in ways that she could understand every step of the way.  The best was the "stuffed toilet bowl."  I explained that the drain was similar to unclogging the toilet when it gets stuffed, but that the drs. still did not know what was clogging it.  They were going to have to do surgery to find out what the clog was.

Anny was also concerned as the three main people her school had been doing tehillim for this past year had all passed away, including a sister of a classmate who had passed away from something to do with her brain.  Anny didn't know specifics, other than that.  She became afraid at times (usually between 4 and 5am when we were awakened for some visit or other.)  We had some very deep conversations at those hours and Anny seemed to understand and believe that Hashem (God) would help her out.  She mainly concentrated on praying for a little boy from our synagogue who was across town receiving life saving stem cells.

My sister in law explained to me that when you really want something badly, pray for someone else's needs and hopefully you will get what you wished for.  I told Anny that, and she was quite relieved.