Hospitals are for many a frightening place to be, but when it comes to kids, they experience visiting these places in a more stressful manner than adults.
A five year-old-boy named Shade Thompson had to undergo two surgeries in a very short time. His mom Layla told Liftable how he was having troubles walking as he only took steps using his toes, not his entire feet. The doctors at the UPMC Susquehanna Health in Williamsport, Pennsylvania took care of Slade and he was recovering just great. After the surgery, the boy had to use a wheelchair for two months, though.
“He’s been through a lot this last year,” Thompson told WNEP-TV.
“We had been in the children’s hospital,” she went on, “so we were kind of nervous just going to a hospital to have it done.”
After he recovered completely, he underwent another operation. This time the doctors had to cauterize Slade’s tonsils, adenoids and both sides of his nose. The surgery was successful and he was about to wake from the anesthesia.
“Kids don’t typically come out of anesthesia very happy,” Slade’s nurse, Annie Hager, told WNEP-TV.
When Slade woke up and realized he was still at the hospital without his mom by his side, he got really scared and started crying. Luckily, the nurse who went to check on him was there to comfort the sweet boy and tell him that everything went well and that his family was waiting outside.
Nurse Hager really did an amazing job. She was there for Slade and she saved the day.
“When I told him mom couldn’t be there, he asked if I would snuggle him and I said, ‘sure will,’” Hager explained.
Layla was eager to see her son, and the moment she entered his room she saw the nurse hugging her boy. She though it was the most touching thing to witness and took a photo of the two. Initially, she wanted it to be a sweet reminder of how loving nurse Hager was, but the photo was soon shared on the social media and went viral.
“As a nurse, providing care is one thing, but making sure our patients are calm and comfortable matters just as much,” UPMC wrote on Facebook.
“It’s nurses like Annie — who show true compassion — that keep our patients happy.”
“You want someone to treat your child the way you would treat them,” Thompson told WNEP-TV. She and Slade returned to UPMC with a gift and thank-you hug for the special nurse.
“This little guy touched my heart, and his mama’s beautiful kind words and actions have brought tears to my eyes twice now!” Hager shared on Instagram. “This right here is why I LOVE my job.”
Layla also shared with Liftable how she spoke with her son about the surgeries before they took place as she believes that being familiar with the procedures helps the kids do better.
“The parents can be calmer, kids can be calmer, everything just runs smoothly,” she said.
“I would tell other parents to confide in other parents who have had similar situations but also remember one bad experience with one person doesn’t mean you will all have that,” she cautioned. “Every person and case is different.”
The most amazing part of the story is that nurse Hager was supposed to have a day off on the day of Slade’s surgery but she was called in because they were running short.
This loving lady, whom Slade now considers his best friend, made all the difference for the scared boy and we believe people like her is what this world needs more of.