I was curious, so I started asking parents why they wait, even if it means waiting an hour or two longer. One woman told me, "Dr. Cerritos know the entire history of my son. She has known him since he was born. When he was born, he and I were both very sick. I nearly died. She has been with us from the very beginning and she will always be my child's doctor". Another mother told me she really believes Dr. Cerritos is a great doctor. She told me she has also been coming to this clinic since her daughter was born. She trusts Dr. Cerritos because she checks everything: "She doesn't just look at my daughter then write a prescription on a piece of paper. She looks all over her body. She makes sure her whole body is healthy."
These parents are just like all parents all over the world. They want the best for their kids and they know that a consistent pediatrician is important. Parents always ask me questions about their kids' weight, height, is it normal? We use CDC growth charts to keep track of height and weight for kids as they grow up, and they are a great tool to show parents how their child's growth compares to an average child and at what point they should be concerned, and I always tell them they should bring any concerns up with the doctor.
Usually, we see moms or grandmothers bringing in their kids, but every once and while, I see dads, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles.
We've had a couple very sick kids over the last week, and with them come some very scared, nervous parents and family. One little teeny tiny preemie baby was here, just a couple of weeks old and only 5 pounds. He had a cough and had a lot of difficulty breathing. Dr. Cerritos listened closely and carefully and spent a lot of time with this little baby. It broke my heart to see that little baby and his mother, who looked so sad and scared. She sat there with her baby in her hands and cried. Dr. Cerritos had the baby admitted to the pediatric in-patient unit in the hospital. Another kiddo came in with x-ray results showing a fractured skull. Upon hearing this from the doctor, the sister (who was the one who had brought the little boy) gasped and covered her mouth with shock. She held back her tears as Dr. Cerritos signed a pass for her to take the ferry to the mainland; she needed to go to the hospital in San Pedro Sula, today, as soon as possible, to see a neurosurgeon there, and it was important that they admit the child today. The fear (and sometimes guilt) that comes up for these family members is heartbreaking. They just want their child to be healthy.
Last week a sick baby was in here for a long time with Dr. Cerritos with a very high fever. She was admitted to the hospital. This week, her mom came into the clinic, carrying her baby girl with her. She was beaming. Her baby was doing much better and they had been able to go home. She wanted to come thank Dr. Cerritos for her care and to show off her happy, healthy baby girl.
It is so good to see parents who care about their kids. I'm hoping to find some materials for parents to read while they are waiting those 2-3 hours and make a reading shelf to put in the waiting area. It will (hopefully) include coloring and reading books for kids along with educational materials for parents. If anyone knows how to get a hold of books, magazines, pamphlets, or flyers in Spanish about family health, I'd be interested to hear! I know these parents want the best for their kids; they seek out good pediatricians and stick with them and ask good questions, and better informed parents will have healthier kiddos!
