My little Mike has been having trouble with encopresis (bowel incontinence) for months now. I took him in to the doctor, hoping for assessment and a treatment plan.
No appointments, walk-ins only. We are at the Provincial Children's Hospital, the best pediatric hospital in Hunan province.
Try to arrive early. We were in the doors before 8am.
Stand in this line to register and pay a tiny fee.
Registered.
Push through to submit registration at a different desk.
Wait in this area for your number to be called. Or camp out in the stairwell.
On your right, people line up for blood draws at the window.
On your left, others drop off their urine samples.
It's loud in here. Mike can barely hear the iPad over the crowd and the fuzzy microphone announcements. Sitting on the floor is inappropriate, but I can't expect him to keep standing.
Two-and-a-half hours later, we are still waiting.
Restroom break. There are only a couple toilets. For children who cannot wait in the long line, there are shared basins to pee in by the door.
Still waiting.
Our number was called!
We went down the corridor to see the doctor, who has the equivalent of a master's degree.
Of course, several other patients huddled in the exam room with us, pressing in. When it was our turn the doctor spoke with us for three minutes. He didn't actually take a look at Mike, though I expressed that I expected him to according to what I had learned about encopresis in five year-old boys. He advised, "You just need to train him. Drink more water. Eat more fruits and vegetables."
I hope this post isn't coming across negatively, or as a criticism. It is neither. I am merely sharing the neutral reality of what it is like for us to visit a doctor, our norm.
That we can see a doctor at all is grace.
That we are rarely have need for a doctor is grace.
P.S. Drew was in Hong Kong earlier this week for a meeting, and now is in Bahrain closing up a sale. Auntie Wang unfortunately fractured her arm -- she's healing well -- so she is also not able to lend a hand at our home for awhile. Despite these very needed people being away, the kids and I have had a smooth week.
counting the graces
thank you Father for
a good week even without Drew or Auntie Wang
Qiufen back in the area, a life-giving friend, a great listener
rainstorm tonight
Titus likes school
fun with free weights, pop music and bluetooth earphones that worked well
yoga to soothe and recover sore muscles
kids making their own smoothie creation in the kitchen, and doing their own clean-up
surprise call with Stephen and all his good news
saying no to the demands of a beggar grandma and knowing it was the right thing
leafy greens
watching my babies grow, every stage is a wonder
looking forward to a productive weekend
praying for Reuben with Titus and Michael, saving a Kangaroo for him
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