Makenna turned four at the end of March. She was sick with an ear infection, so this week was the earliest we could work in her 4 year old check up. The visit was filled with hope, sadness, and joy.
Makenna popped right up when the nurse called her name. "Hi", she says as she makes her way right past the nurse and straight the the scale. "I'm four now". As she climbed up onto the scale, I noticed a mom with a new baby sitting in the waiting area. As she craddled her newborn in her arms, she eyed Makenna and smiled ~ then looked back at her own child. I could tell she was longing for her baby to emere as a person and was looking forward to these milestones. In that very moment I said a prayer. A prayer that her road would be as peaceful and easy as she was imagining it to be. That each of those milestones would emerge without speedbumps.
After we got weight and height, Makenna led the way to the exam room. As the nurse took her preliminary vitals, she pulled out the blood pressure cuff. She began carefully explaining what it was and what was going to happen. Good practice for pediatric nurses. Unfortunately, all I could think was... "you really don't have to explain all that to her, she's used to it. It won't be a big deal." And that thought would repeat itself... as I watched Makenna put the gown on as matter of fact as her clothes, and when the doctor said "Let's check your back out" and Makenna turned around stood with her feet together and touched her toes. How sad is it that all of those things are normal for a four year old?
And then they joy and hope entered the picture. As her Dr began asking questions about her general health and more specifically her back, I could sense something in her voice. She is intriqued by Makenna's story in general and I realized what an impression Makenna has made on her - and the whole practice. We have all learned through Makenna and her experience. And a peace settled over me as I thought back to that mom in the waiting room with her brand new baby. I know that baby is in good hands.
And then the best news of the day: Makenna has grown 4 inches this year!!!!! Amazing what a straight spine can do :)
Makenna popped right up when the nurse called her name. "Hi", she says as she makes her way right past the nurse and straight the the scale. "I'm four now". As she climbed up onto the scale, I noticed a mom with a new baby sitting in the waiting area. As she craddled her newborn in her arms, she eyed Makenna and smiled ~ then looked back at her own child. I could tell she was longing for her baby to emere as a person and was looking forward to these milestones. In that very moment I said a prayer. A prayer that her road would be as peaceful and easy as she was imagining it to be. That each of those milestones would emerge without speedbumps.
After we got weight and height, Makenna led the way to the exam room. As the nurse took her preliminary vitals, she pulled out the blood pressure cuff. She began carefully explaining what it was and what was going to happen. Good practice for pediatric nurses. Unfortunately, all I could think was... "you really don't have to explain all that to her, she's used to it. It won't be a big deal." And that thought would repeat itself... as I watched Makenna put the gown on as matter of fact as her clothes, and when the doctor said "Let's check your back out" and Makenna turned around stood with her feet together and touched her toes. How sad is it that all of those things are normal for a four year old?
And then they joy and hope entered the picture. As her Dr began asking questions about her general health and more specifically her back, I could sense something in her voice. She is intriqued by Makenna's story in general and I realized what an impression Makenna has made on her - and the whole practice. We have all learned through Makenna and her experience. And a peace settled over me as I thought back to that mom in the waiting room with her brand new baby. I know that baby is in good hands.
And then the best news of the day: Makenna has grown 4 inches this year!!!!! Amazing what a straight spine can do :)