During your hospital stay, it is normal to miss your siblings. However, there are a few key lessons I have learned from my years of hospital stays.
What you shouldn't do: In my opinion, the worst thing you might do is have your siblings come visit you in the hospital. I know this sounds bad but there is a reason for this advice. In the hospital there are all sorts of things going on. In your room, there could be tons of tubes, cords and stuff hooked up to you. This will make it seem like you are sicker than you actually are. For you, seeing these tubes might be normal but it could scare your brothers or sisters. It is also very hard for your brothers and sisters to leave you in the hospital after missing you for so long. But, if you really want them to visit, then make sure you wait until you have recovered a bit. I understand if you want your brother or sister there and that is okay. So, if you choose to have them visit, make sure that you wait a couple days (usually three or four) until they visit. This will ensure that you feel better and look better when they see you. You do not want to have your siblings there when you feel sick and just want to rest -- that is bad for them and you. You also do not want them there when you are in pain and look bad -- this will make it seem like you are sicker than you actually are which is also not good. What is most important is that you rest and recovery because that will get you to see your siblings and family very soon. My personal experience: When I was in first grade, my mom decided that it would be smart to have my two brothers, Henry and Christopher, come visit me. This was the worst idea ever. They came to the hospital to visit about a week after one of my surgeries and became freaked out. Not only was I still recovering, and therefore not acting like myself, but I had various tubes and wires connecting to me, like my IV. This made them really scared as they thought I was much sicker than I actually was. In addition, when it became time to leave, my brothers did not want to leave me or my parents. They started to cry a lot as they were not only worried about me but did not want to leave. This not only made them feel worse but made everyone sadder. From then on, we decided that, outside of my parents, nobody would be allowed to visit me in the hospital after a surgery. What you can do instead: Instead of bringing them to the hospital, have them Zoom or FaceTime with you. This not only saves time but makes it easier for everyone. They don't have to see all the stuff that is going on and that could make them scared. These calls are also much more flexible, which allows you to move the call if you are not feeling up to it. It is also a good idea to avoid lots of questions during these calls as it is nice for the patients to have a break from all the questions and just have a normal conversation. Moral of the story: It is normal to miss your siblings and other family in the hospital. But, having your loved ones visit you in the hospital is not the best idea. Your loved ones might become confused by all the wires and tubes and become worried as they could think you are actually sicker than you are. This will just make the whole situation worse. Just try using Zoom or FaceTime to communicate with your family members. This way, you avoid all the drama that a hospital visit most likely will create. But, if you really want them to visit, then make sure you wait a couple days after your surgery so you look and feel better. This will make their visit a lot better and more enjoyable for everyone. |
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