Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Do You Know What a Phlebotomist Is?

Brave Little Boy
(after the blood draw)

Our daughter sent the above photo on Friday to assure me that Henry had had a good follow-up visit to the phlebotomist this morning. (Why is it that the word 'vampire' always comes to mind!?)  He had to have blood drawn yesterday, in order to do the periodic testing for allergies, to see if he's become more or less allergic to certain things. 

This little guy had put on his brave face and held out his arm for the technician to draw blood. The phlebotomist tried several times (!!) and couldn't get a vein, so she moved to the other arm. By this time, his patience and courage had worn thin and he began to whimper and then cry.  POOR LITTLE GUY!

To make matters worse, after they returned home, our daughter got a phone call from the clinic, informing her he would have to return, because they hadn't drawn enough blood! You've got to be kidding!! She phoned me to tell me about it and I was just furious. (Because this is the second time this has happened, where he's had to return because they'd not drawn enough blood!) All he'd been through, and they'd not taken enough blood?? Hadn't they read doctor's orders? Doesn't the doctor communicate to them the number of tests that will be run or the amount of blood needed??

So I was awake a lot in the night, praying for this sweet little guy.


 Happy Boy!
 Playing at the park, a nice little reward for courage.


 Praise God! This time, the phlebotomist got it on the first try.

***

Just think: At just under 3 years old, Henry already knows the word 'phlebotomist.'

When I was little, I learned my first big word from my grandma:  'obnoxious.'



***


Photobucket

30 comments:

Trace4J said...

Oh what a little Trooper.
I love the name Henry.
I do know what a Phlebotomist is.
Only because that is what my old neighbor was. hehe
Woolie Hugs

Unknown said...

He is so gorgeous Judy!!!
And what a brave little boy - when my Son was 6 years old - and they were giving menengitis shots at school - I got a call from the school to get there right away - he was crouched under the teachers desk - throwing things out at the doctor so he wouldn't have to get a shot.....LMHO
XOXO

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

Aww...poor little guy. He is absolutely adorable!

Muffy's Marks said...

What a brave little boy, and he sure is a QT!!

Kim said...

Poor little fella. He looks no worse for wear so that's a good sign.

Anonymous said...

How infuriating indeed. Why don't they read the forms properly. It is enough to put him off forever. I hope all goes well this time.

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

Poor little guy, they should always have an experienced Phlebotomist and someone who is good at getting small veins on the first try. No baby should have to be stuck multiple times because the person isn't good at drawing blood.

MadSnapper said...

he is a brave little guy and as cute as he can be.. adorable... hope the blood shows no new allergies. i would be upset about it to, for him to have to go back, and not the first time...

Suzan said...

Ahhhh - Poor Henry! And any child that gets shots!! It's no fun - but one of those necessary evils!! Even giving blood for allergies. But your correct - they should draw enough to not have to come back a 2nd time!! My sister was highly allergic and was always having tests done on her back - scratch marks to see what she was or was not reacting to. Henry is a cutie and at a wonderfully fun age!

Unknown said...

It is hard enough on an adult, but on a child it is torture. Bless his heart is all I can think of....some 'vampires' are good at getting it the first time, but sadly, some arent. He is a little doll!

Diane said...

Don't get me started on the medical field...! Best wishes to your little doll!

Amy Burzese said...

Bless his little brave heart. Unfortunately, you have to question just about everything everyone does to make sure it gets done correctly. I hope the Phlebotomist learns from mistakes.

NanaDiana said...

Poor boy! It is hard with those babies. I worked in a hospital and it was SO hard to see the kids come in and have to have tests and blood work, etc. One of my son's veins were encased so the needle would hit them and the vein would roll. THAT was miserable! xo Diana

TexWisGirl said...

awww. poor little one!

Sunny Simple Life said...

I do know cause of my daughter but oh poor baby. That's when I bring big time bribing into the moment. As soon as this is done we are going to get this or that.

Eileen H said...

Poor, brave little man.
Very annoying that they didn't get it right first time!

Heide at ApronHistory said...

Poor little guy! Even I gave up on allergy shots, couldn't stand the needles!

tlcukjourney said...

Awwww, he really is a gorgeous little guy. Of course I know what Phlebotomist is... I'm a pre-med student :)
I'm sorry he had to be poked so many times, that really stinks...
Tammy xx

Donna said...

Poor little guy! But I did get a laugh out of the word that you learned at 3, LOL.

Olive said...

Sweet boy. Pediatric lab draws are difficult. Likely these folks may be less experienced than you or I would like them to be. I drew blood for years from adults and then had to learn the kiddos later on. Some RN's do not learn this skill if the hospital is fully staffed. Mine never was.

Terri D said...

Bless his little heart! I'm always glad I have good veins. Getting stuck once is bad enough, at any age. Four times at under three is just unconscionable. He looks like he is doing okay, though. What a sweetie!

Ruth Kelly said...

Grrrr that lab should have done its job the first time. I've had that same experience many times where they jab both arms many times before they get blood. It is very annoying for an adult but I feel bad for the youngster - it is harder for them.

Chatty Crone said...

I knew what one was - but why at the age of 3 has he had to go twice - very unusual... is everything okay? He is sure cute and brave. sandie

lemoineau said...

Henry's Mama, reporting in. Thanks for all the sweet comments, everyone. :)

Not to worry; Henry's doing very well. These are routine tests for kids who have food allergies, basically checking the status of the allergies - have they intensified? Are they lessening? And we also are testing for a few things that he reacted to, to see just how severe the allergy is. :)

Unknown said...

Oh my, that's terrible, I do know because I have had several and the needles they use are like a pitch fork, very large!! He is so adorable and must be quiet a trooper! Hope he does not have to endure this anymore!!

Parsley said...

Poor sweet boy. I hope he is past the trauma and feels okay. In the future, can they do a pain patch to numb the skin?

Cynthia said...

He is so adorable!! What a brave and strong little boy!

Cynthia

Denise said...

Bless his precious heart.

Yenta Mary said...

Poor little thing!!! Except, of course, every time I see him again he's not so little anymore ....

Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball said...

Oh my! So hard on such tender young skin. I have a friend who is a phlebotomist. Another friend is a nurse who specializes in pic lines. Both of them tell me there are tricks to make the blood draw not painful. It's a shame the tech did not get the orders straight.

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