"My child's day"

In the afternoon recently, I got home to my child telling me they did not feel safe within themselves to be at home without harming themselves. No parent wants to hear this and no parent wants to think that they can not be the person who can help their own child.

So we called around. The nurse on call had a doctor ring us back and the doctor told me to get my child to a hospital. So I loaded my gorgeous, shattered young adult into the car and we drove quietly from our home to Wonthaggi.

On arrival, we met the security at the door. He was warm and respectful. The first face we saw - I can imagine that the last few months have been trying for all health staff but this human was warm, real and made us feel at ease as we walked in the door.

Then there was Kate. She sat my child down and made them feel like that in that moment, there was no one's story more important to her than my child's - she listened, she connected and I was able to weep while someone else shared the load of my child's pain. A doctor (sorry I can't remember this lovely human's name!) came and talked with my child- again kind respectful and gentle with my child's pain. She organised Jobie from mental health to come and we had to wait for some time - while we were waiting I went to the counter and asked if I could just take my child home but the nurse at the counter (a new shift) was just like Kate - she empathised and encouraged us to stay, to wait. So we did and Jobie arrived. He moved fast and he spoke gently. He reassured my child and he made me feel like someone else had my child back.

I got to take my child home the following night - we drove in feeling lost but came home with a plan. My child was heard. My child wept with their story and felt safe to do so - with kind and professional strangers.

I am so grateful.

Thank you to all the staff for making a really sh****y day a bit more shiny!