Finding quality time in the oddest of places: 2 days at Long Island Jewish's Cohen Medical Center

My 2 year old Elijah and I just returned from a 2 day stay at Long Island Jewish Hospital’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center (LIJ, formerly Schneider’s Children’s Hospital).  And while this is obviously not the ideal way to have some one-on-one time… and these were two very trying days for both of us…  I did enjoy cuddling up with my “baby” in his hospital bed and comforting him as best I could.

Elijah’s official diagnosis is Reactive Airway Disease (which hopefully won’t turn into asthma).  We’ve gone their ER a number of times already, and this was the second time we’ve been admitted.  All of which might explain Elijah’s fear of stethoscopes and why basic weighing and measuring at our pediatrician’s office results in panicked crying and hysteria.   As we’ve spent time in the pediatric ER before, I knew to grab a few key items as we ran out the door: sweatshirts, snacks, his sippy cup, and toys to play with. Our visits to the ER usually lasted 6-8 hours and the ER is freezing!  

We checked in quickly, and Elijah was immediately wary of the place.  The staff there was very kind and patient with him.  They specialize in kids and had a seemingly endless supply of bubbles on hand – there were some in every room we passed through.  The TV was also pre-tuned to the Disney Channel (and while I thought I was an expert on all things Disney Jr. before, I am now even better versed in all things related to the brand).

I think I can accurately say that Elijah and I were joined at the hip the entire time we were at Cohen’s.  We often joke that Elijah is the least cuddly baby ever.  He likes to initiate contact and do the cuddle thing on his terms.  The strange surroundings and frequent blood pressure/oxygen level/ temperature vitals analytics really threw him.  And, as he had unfortunately thrown up that morning, the doctors didn’t want him to eat and he was hungry all day.  Elijah wouldn’t sit in his bed unless we were entwined, and he even wanted to accompany me on trips to the bathroom.   All of that entwining was very special and I enjoyed holding his hand while he watched TV.

Once we got admitted, there were seasoned doctors, chief residents, residents, medical students, nurses, and various techs from two different day-shifts who all met Elijah and needed to listen to his chest.  His stethoscope phobia surfaced each time and he’d put up a fight.  But, his medications finally started to take effect on day two and he was back to being Mr. Personality.  He charmed the head of reception, who brought him a bear that he has slept with ever since.  While he often told the staff to “stop hurting me” or “Aargh”ed at them like a pirate, and sometimes “Roarrrr”ed, he also said “thank you” and “bye-bye” at the end of each invasive visit to the room. 

LIJ did an amazing job of making both me and Elijah feel at home.  While in the ER, we had some people come in with coloring pages and crayons.  This was the first time Elijah perked up in our time there.  He colored, we drew pictures together, and he even drew train tracks and sang the Thomas theme song.  

Elijah receives his Thomas and Cars coloring pages and is suddenly happy

Once we were admitted, there was a team of turquoise-shirted family life staff who maintained an amazing playroom – which Elijah himself named the “Fun Room” – and the staff stopped by frequently to ask if we wanted anything and also manned a rolling snack cart with chips, cookies, ice cream, juice and other delights.  I was also fairly impressed with the hospital food.  It won’t make Zagat, but they had a food cart and there were an assortment of hot and cold dishes, fruit, dessert and beverages.  The families were encouraged to take as much as they wanted and the food was for everyone (not just the patient).

Back to the playroom!  Elijah loved it in there.  He brought his race cars with him each time we went and rolled them around the surfaces.  He took his cars into the dollhouse, adopted a baby doll they had there, played blocks, made train sets, pretended to cook in their mini kitchen.  There was an easel with paint (too messy, I steered him away as much as possible), paper, markers, crayons, and arts and crafts center, and cabinets filled with games and puzzles.   There were video games and books for all age groups.  Parents were encouraged to take the items back to the rooms for the kids to use at their leisure and throughout the night.  They even thought of lap desks, as there are just the single tables by the beds back in the rooms.  Our medical student explained that they aren’t supposed to do any tests or exams in the play room so it can be a “Safe Zone” for the kids.    We enjoyed playing together and he kept trying to run down the hall to get there.  There is currently a lot of construction going on around the hospital, and Elijah was mesmerized watching the cranes and bulldozers from the picture windows of the playroom.  He learned the word “hard hat.”

Elijah definitely became more of a cuddle bug during our 2 day stay, and has been since we’ve been home.  He’s much more free with unprompted “I lu-you”s and comes over and gives a triple kiss (I wonder if I was giving lots of triple kisses in the hospital, or if he just made that up on his own).   We are so happy to be home and Elijah and Zachary had a giggle and hug filled reunion.