health

Who do you call when it all falls apart?

 

 

 

By BERN MORLEY.

I remember the very first time my daughter had gotten sick. We were driving somewhere non-descript at the time and she would have been no more than 12 months old. In hindsight, she had nothing more than a virus but at the time, as she started to projectile vomit throughout the car, I immediately went into worst case scenario mode and envisioned her lying on a hospital bed with Dr House and his entourage peering down at her, declaring she had, wait for it, Lupus. I clearly watched WAY too much TV back then.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Terry White Chemists. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in her own words.

Swerving into the nearest shopping centre and carrying her into the pharmacy as if I’d just rescued her from a burning building, people parted for us like the red sea. As I started to incoherently machine gun my daughter’s story to the kindly pharmacist, I noticed his worried look. When I got home and noticed the vomit patch over my boob however, I realised this was probably the reason for his concern. I digress. Thing was, within 5 minutes, after running through the symptoms, discussing options and basically being put at ease, I realised that it was all going to be okay. He suggested I take her to the doctor to be 100% sure, loaded me up with some infant panadol and we were good to go.

That of course wasn’t the first or last time I had to visit the chemist or deal with this kind of situation. I soon learnt that I’d be back there over and over and over again for various needs, advice or let’s face it, just the jellybeans. Most kids seem to contract everything at least once before they turn 16. Ringworm, Hookworm, Gastro, Scabies, cut knees, sore teeth, you name it, I’ve seen it and have lobbed on up to our ever friendly pharmacist to receive some of his/her undivided attention and advice.

Although to be fair, the chemist isn’t the only place I receive my support when I need help. Who did I call when my daughter had her first runny nose or found that weird rash on my son’s elbow? I rang my Mum. I’m sure in the early days I could almost hear her eyes roll when I rang up with stupid questions like “Why is my baby’s poo no longer mustard coloured?” She was the person I would call for everything because I knew I’d been a troublesome baby, unable to eat most things due to allergies. She just UNDERSTOOD and I miss her to this day as a result.

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Also to get a mention though are my close girlfriends. I was lucky enough to have my children around the same time my best friends’ did. This meant we’d catch up regularly and discuss all those things that maybe, without that bond, we’d be forced to deal with alone. When my friend’s baby failed to thrive we were able to talk about bottle feeding, comp feeding, the good, the bad and everything in between – without judgement.

Three children and thirteen years on and I no longer get overly worried when my child gets a temperature or an “itchy bottom”. I’ve been there enough times and recognise the difference between the need for an icepack and an ambulance. But it wasn’t always this way. And if I’m honest, you’re never at ease with your children being unwell. You will worry about them until the day you leave this earth, about their health and most importantly, how you can stop them from hurting. And you will always need that person or place you can rely on for reassurance.

 At Terry White Chemists we’re looking out for all Australians with the best healthcare products and services. We’re making life easier with health solutions that are right for you. We believe life shouldn’t be complicated and that you’ll find great value on every shelf. That’s a big tick for your family. Terry White Chemists. Value Health.

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Who do you turn to for quick advice about your children’s health? Have you ever turned up to your local chemist with a strange symptom, looking for advice?