Sep 17, 2009
The Problem With Driving
The problem with driving a child with a tracheostomy is that I cannot suction the trach if I am driving. If I cannot suction the trach when Ainsley needs it she struggles to breath. One would hope that you can drive from point A to point B without the need for suctioning. Sometimes you may get that lucky but more often you will not. Even if it's only a 5 minute drive and you suction before you leave. Today was one of those days. There is something about the hum of a car in idle that seems to stir them up and always at an inopportune moment such as when you are at a light turning left and can't pull over to the side of the road because you are not moving. I assess the situation hoping the light will turn green, nope. I watch in the rear view mirror and hope the secretions that are bubbling out of Ainsley's trach will stop, nope. I hope she'll be able to cough them out of the trach, after 5 tries, nope. Perhaps there is enough time for Evie to get out of her seat and wipe the secretions away? OK let's try it. Nope. So when the light turns green she is out of her seat. Doubly unsafe. Now I've got a child unrestrained AND one that is struggling to breath. I pull over immediately into a parking space after passing through the light and am standing next to the street in the bike lane suctioning Ainsley when a Metro bus turns the corner stops a few feet away and honks at me to which I reply by holding up my finger (the pointer finger not the one you think) as in "Wait a second." HELLLOO I'M TRYING TO CLEAR MY CHILD'S AIRWAY SO SHE CAN BREATH! I have the right to stand next to my car for a second. And it is even a two lane road so she should have easily been able to pull over to pick up her riders without a fuss. Driving in the city is dangerous. One of these days I'll probably get hit on the side of the road.
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You know, I once nearly ran a pedestrian over trying to get into a parking spot because Alex stopped breathing in the back seat and I didn't know why. I waved and called, "sorry" after I was done yelling at Alex to see if he would answer me. I still got some nasty glares then, too. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI only can go less than half a mile and that is on back roads. I just got that brave. Its scary...and i'm more afraid he'll pull the silly thing out. So scary! The life with a trach!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things about this journey that bring you to tears and the fact that a simple car ride can turn into a life and death situation is just one of them. To say "it ain't fair' is an understatement. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog looking for info. about blenderized formula. Our son had a trach and home ventilator from 9mo. until 3yrs. He was able to slowly wean and finally decanulate. He is nine now and continues to have multiple health struggles, but he is amazing! Thanks for your blog. Ainsley is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy husband disengaged our air bag so Noah could ride beside me in our Nissan Sentra. I learned to suction while driving with my knee. SCARREY!!