Lumbar Puncture

The nurse scrunched up the 7 week little girl into a ball so her spine was curved, exposing her intervertebral spaces.

The resident counted her vertebrae, felt the spaces, and started prepping the area of entry.

I dipped the pacifier into the sugar water again and tried to get her to suck vigorously on it.

The resident sticks the needle into her spine, the end of the needle remains dry.

She screams and tries to wriggle free.

I put more sugar water into her mouth.

We start over.

The attending tries.

I put more sugar water on the pacifier.

Only blood comes out of the  other end of the needle.

The attending calls the hospital director.

We put the baby in the sitting position.

The nurse scrunches her down.

I try to get sugar water in her mouth.

She stops trying to break free and relaxes into my hands

I cradle her little head

Nothing comes out of the needle

Overheard in Egleston

A 7yo boy born with 4 fingers on his left hand: "Some people say God made everyone with 10 fingers and 10 toes, and that's not true."

Same boy, when asked about napping: "Yes. I napped 12 minutes ago!"

A 3yo girl with a pinwheel for incentive spirometry: "Abra Cadabra!"

An 8yo girl when asked about being ready to go home: "I'm afraid of falling and having to come back to the hospital"

A 10yo boy with recurring Guillan-Barre "I'm afraid of dying from this"