Mia McDonough
February 2021
Amelia
Mcdonough
,
BSN, RN
Oncology/Hematology Unit
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Because of Mia, a three-year-old with cancer was allowed to be a three-year-old again. She was allowed to run around and play.
Our daughter C is three years old and has been battling cancer with a long road ahead of her. She had begun her treatment overseas. When she finally arrived in Boston she had already suffered major emotional and even physical trauma from overseas. But slowly and gradually she learned to trust again. She started smiling and laughing. Listening with a stethoscope was no longer a source of fear. But now we had new obstacles. Lengthy hospitalization along with isolation.
C contracted Covid-19 living in an ICU overseas. Fast forward to being here and she was still testing positive. However, because she was overseas during her first positive test, they required her to be isolated upon admission to the hospital. With the help of a few doctors advocating for her with the infectious disease department, she was able to be lifted from Covid precautions. But that was no easy feat. It took days of isolation in a room with no sight of the skies and only walls in front of our window.
By day three she was begging me “Mumma... please can we go home now?” And it still hurts to remember hearing those words coming from such a small little girl. After what seemed like weeks (five days in a room with practically no natural light in Covid isolation), we were finally moved to a room where we could see the skies. The new room was much smaller, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and so we took it happily! C was no longer on Covid precautions but now they had informed us that there was a certain bacteria in her urine that was not harmful, but antibiotic-resistant. New contact precautions were put on her. So her isolation status remained the same. She was stuck in a tiny room now, but at least with a view of the outside world.
Well from that point days turned into weeks. She continued to be treated for her cancer, but other issues surfaced. Her chemotherapy along with a lack of movement (sitting on her bed all day or sitting on the bench next to the window) was causing her to be severely constipated. Five days without a bowel movement. She was extremely uncomfortable at this point. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she was becoming depressed. At three years old. She needed to be able to walk around. She couldn’t stay in a tiny room for two and a half weeks straight with no movement and no direct sunlight. She needed an advocate to speak for her.
The doctor turned to our nurse Amelia (Mia) and said, “How about you give them a call and see what they say?” Mia immediately said “Yup! Not a problem! I’ll talk to them!” A wave of relief and hope finally sank in. When the doctor left the room I began to talk with Mia about everything. I told her C was a great little girl... Always happy. Always playing. She was never a kid who sat in one place, she was constantly on the move. But the last few months of her life had been torment. Cancer diagnosis, contracting Covid at a critical time in her life, side effects from chemotherapy, isolation... C was becoming depressed. I could see it in her face. A three-year-old should never be depressed. I began to cry, but Mia consoled me. She assured me she would stay on the phone with the infectious disease until something could be changed.
About an hour later Mia came back smiling. She said she was able to convince infectious disease to make an exception for C! She went above and beyond to ensure C could have a comfortable stay in the hospital during her lengthy admission. We were over the moon. What really touched me was that not only was C happy, but Mia was happy with her. She felt what we felt. She walked through the emotions with us, and she made something happen that wouldn’t have normally happened. C went outside of her room that day and every single day after. She was smiling, exercising, and even started eating more! Mia was our saving grace when the road ahead seemed dark and grim. C is happier and healthier because of the care she received. Because of Mia, a three-year-old with cancer was allowed to be a three-year-old again. She was allowed to run around and play. She will always have a special place in our hearts, and I am always thinking of her. Thank you so much, Mia, we love you!
C contracted Covid-19 living in an ICU overseas. Fast forward to being here and she was still testing positive. However, because she was overseas during her first positive test, they required her to be isolated upon admission to the hospital. With the help of a few doctors advocating for her with the infectious disease department, she was able to be lifted from Covid precautions. But that was no easy feat. It took days of isolation in a room with no sight of the skies and only walls in front of our window.
By day three she was begging me “Mumma... please can we go home now?” And it still hurts to remember hearing those words coming from such a small little girl. After what seemed like weeks (five days in a room with practically no natural light in Covid isolation), we were finally moved to a room where we could see the skies. The new room was much smaller, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and so we took it happily! C was no longer on Covid precautions but now they had informed us that there was a certain bacteria in her urine that was not harmful, but antibiotic-resistant. New contact precautions were put on her. So her isolation status remained the same. She was stuck in a tiny room now, but at least with a view of the outside world.
Well from that point days turned into weeks. She continued to be treated for her cancer, but other issues surfaced. Her chemotherapy along with a lack of movement (sitting on her bed all day or sitting on the bench next to the window) was causing her to be severely constipated. Five days without a bowel movement. She was extremely uncomfortable at this point. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she was becoming depressed. At three years old. She needed to be able to walk around. She couldn’t stay in a tiny room for two and a half weeks straight with no movement and no direct sunlight. She needed an advocate to speak for her.
The doctor turned to our nurse Amelia (Mia) and said, “How about you give them a call and see what they say?” Mia immediately said “Yup! Not a problem! I’ll talk to them!” A wave of relief and hope finally sank in. When the doctor left the room I began to talk with Mia about everything. I told her C was a great little girl... Always happy. Always playing. She was never a kid who sat in one place, she was constantly on the move. But the last few months of her life had been torment. Cancer diagnosis, contracting Covid at a critical time in her life, side effects from chemotherapy, isolation... C was becoming depressed. I could see it in her face. A three-year-old should never be depressed. I began to cry, but Mia consoled me. She assured me she would stay on the phone with the infectious disease until something could be changed.
About an hour later Mia came back smiling. She said she was able to convince infectious disease to make an exception for C! She went above and beyond to ensure C could have a comfortable stay in the hospital during her lengthy admission. We were over the moon. What really touched me was that not only was C happy, but Mia was happy with her. She felt what we felt. She walked through the emotions with us, and she made something happen that wouldn’t have normally happened. C went outside of her room that day and every single day after. She was smiling, exercising, and even started eating more! Mia was our saving grace when the road ahead seemed dark and grim. C is happier and healthier because of the care she received. Because of Mia, a three-year-old with cancer was allowed to be a three-year-old again. She was allowed to run around and play. She will always have a special place in our hearts, and I am always thinking of her. Thank you so much, Mia, we love you!