Madi's story

Madi had to write a memoir for school & I helped her type it up last night. I think she did an awesome job & all the writing is her own words. I did nothing to help except type & have her fix some parts that needed re-working. But all the ideas are hers & I honestly do not think it sounds like a 9 year old wrote it!

After you read it let me know what you think. I know Madi would love to hear your comments.

"M.U.D."

My Unforgettable Discovery

by Madison Galvez

Ahhh…a perfect day. The sun was shining and just a small breeze was blowing. Nothing bad could possibly happen. But guess what? You guessed it, something bad!

What you ask is the bad thing? A doctor’s appointment to be exact. My tonsillitis had been getting out of control so my family took me to the doctor. (Even though we were low on money)

I had a doctor named Dr. Penrod and he said I had one of the worst cases of tonsillitis he had ever seen! He started whispering to my mom and when they turned back to me, they started staring me down. (Just like the time I was new at school) It felt so weird and creepy. Even worse they sent me into a room with my mom were there was a lady with a HUGE smile on her face.

The big smile lady told me “Well it looks like your tonsils are gonna come out.”

When she said that I wanted to run outside and leave so that no one could touch my throat. I wish I could have run far away but instead I had to be brave. I could not let fear overcome my life.

After my mom made the big announcement in the family car, my dad was not surprised. My little brother on the other hand, he actually did not care! I mean I thought he would either be scared for me or at least laugh in my face but, nothing. Not a word.

The drive home was agonizing and painful. I think the painful part was when everyone was silent. That kind of silence makes you forget the bad things but it made me think about the simple things in life. Like how my mom always makes pancakes on Saturday mornings. Or that my dad always tucks me in at night. I even thought of how good it feels when my cat Belle cuddles with me.

By the time we got home everyone sat down like nothing ever happened. While we ate dinner no one brought up my surgery and it was like the doctor’s appointment never happened at all. It was so excruciating that I could barley handle it!

A few days passed and finally my mom mentioned it. She said “So are you scared for the surgery?”

I replied “Please don’t talk about it.” Even though I wanted to answer her and ask her the millions of questions I had, I stayed silent.

“Why don’t you want to talk about it? Getting your tonsils out is a good thing,” my mom said.

“NO IT’S NOT” I said.

I went off to think about what I had just said but also to think about what would happen to me. “Like what if something goes wrong?” “Or what if I wake up during the surgery?” The only good thought I had was “what if I don’t have to have the surgery?”

Meanwhile my brother was in his room playing video games. He would rather care less about how I feel or how anybody else feels. He only cares about himself and his video games. His whole life revolves around his video games and any spare time he is spent playing them.

Ok now back to me. Just a few days later I went to the ENT doctor who is a doctor who specializes in the ears, noses and throats. He turned out to be the one who would actually do the surgery to take out my tonsils.

I was so scared when we walked into the waiting room. There were only baby toys to play with so I immediately sat down next to my mom. Right beside me there was one of my favorite magazines called “Highlights for kids.” Yeah I know it’s a kid’s magazine but my grandmother got me a subscription so I guess its good enough for me.

I started reading it when I noticed a nurse coming out. My heart started racing and I was silently begging her not to call my name. When the nurse said “Ida Green…” I felt so relieved that she didn’t call my name and the old lady next to me was gone.

My heart was normal again but I was still scared so this time it was my mind doing the racing. My thoughts were racing faster than a cheetah as I anxiously waited for my turn.

Finally the time had come. A nurse came out and said “Madison Galvez…” I thought “Ok time to face the facts. You gotta go in there in sit.” I mean it’s going to be all right so I might as well face my fears.

After some serious but quick thinking, I went in. I was so nervous that I was sweating. I finally got the courage to shake hands with the surgeon who was going to talk with me and make sure everything goes smooth.

He explained what the surgery would be like and then another man walked in and said “Hi I am your anesthesiologist and will be the one who helps you sleep during the surgery.”

I said hi back and he told me more about the surgery. I just nodded my head to whatever he was saying because it was hard to understand all of the words he was saying. Then the surgeon gave me some antibiotics to help with some of the redness and swelling and I left.

Just a few days later it was the day of my surgery. We had to get up really early so my mom could check me into the hospital at 6am. I was so tired I fell asleep on the way there because the hospital was very far away.

In the past every time I had walked into the hospital lobby it was always for someone else. Either my brother or for my mom or even for my dad with his high blood pressure. But never, not once have I had a problem with my body or my health. I guess this was my time to be the patient and not just a visitor.

My mom had to do some paperwork and then we had to sit and wait for them to call my name. It felt like it took forever but when it was finally my turn to go back everyone was so nice. It felt like I knew the nurses my whole life and as if we were related. The feeling grew stronger when I saw the doctor and once I got to know them better the feeling swelled inside of me. I knew I would no longer be afraid of doctors again or to have surgery even though I used to be terrified of all doctors and especially going to the hospital.

After that everything went by really fast and before I knew it I was in the wheelchair getting ready to leave. I was so thankful and felt very blessed everything went well and I made it out of the surgery ok.

When I got into the car my dad was waiting with flowers just for me. I was quite surprised but it could have been the pain medicine making me feel that way. I was feeling a little loopy and usually when I get loopy I am happy. Not this time! My mom told me I was like a raging bull and I was so mean to her. She told me nothing could make me happy and was amazed of how well she took it.

I thought I would recover quickly but when I came home I threw up right away and then a few more times until it was time for bed. While I was sleeping my teeth started to chatter and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

I accidently woke up my mom and she quickly put an extra blanket on me so I could get warmer. Blanket after blanket was added until there were no more blankets left in the house! It was a good two hours taken away from our sleep trying to warm me up but finally I felt a little better.

The next morning my mom called the doctor to see why my teeth were chattering and to find out if something was wrong. Then she took my temperature and found out I had a really high fever. The doctor said I had to the emergency room right away so they could figure out what was wrong for themselves.

Once I got there I had to wait twenty minutes just to be seen! Then they made me a hospital bracelet and put me in another room. I HATE those kinds of rooms because they don’t have anything to do and they are always cold and boring.

I had no choice so I went into the boring room and the doctor said “You have to have an IV,” which is a big needle that they stick in my blood vein. Then they can give me bags of clear liquid and take my blood.

I don’t know why I was so afraid of getting an IV. I mean I had one just the other day but I was asleep when they put it in. Luckily the doctor was so nice and friendly. He treated me like an angel which of course I am and always will be. The really weird part was I didn’t even feel a thing when he put it in!

After they ran a bunch of tests and gave me lots of medicine, they said I could go home. Before I left my nice nurse gave me a little teddy bear for being so brave. To this day whenever I look at that special bear I remember my unforgettable discovery and am grateful that I will never again get tonsillitis.