Pediatric Medical Complexity: Shared Insights by B. Markovitz & A. Schrooten | OPENPediatrics‌

So I think the punchline is for pediatricians to learn to see the children through their parents' eyes.

We have a quote in one of our presentations from Thoreau that says, could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant? There's a story in the book that I read when we gave presentations about this by Alicia Waldman.

He's trained in oncology and palliative care, remarkably articulate and thoughtful human being.

He talks about, real quickly, he was moonlighting in the PICU as a palliative care fellow.

This young woman

was admitted, multiple complex

medical conditions, cerebral palsy, virtually immobile, certainly not commutative.

And at some point, the mother says, you know, my girl's hungry.

Can you start feeding? And he looks at her like she's got two heads, like your daughter didn't do anything.

How could you know she's hungry? And then, you know, one thing led to another.

Then as a palliative care physician, he goes on a home visit to their house.

And he thinks he sees the girl lying in bed on her side like she was before, staring into space.

And he walks around to look at her face, and she smiles at him.

Sorry.

It never ceases to tug at my heartstrings, this story, but...

Because we've all been there.

We've all looked at these children and said, how do you communicate with them? They can't possibly communicate.

And they do.

And we'll tell more.

But it's really important to use the parents as interpreters for these children.

Just because they're not verbal doesn't mean they can't communicate.

And there's a quote from one of the physicians.

Even if you don't believe what the parents believe, believe in the parents.

That's a beautiful anecdote and a beautiful quote, believe in the parents.

And communication.

So I think the punchline is for pediatricians to learn to see the children through their parents' eyes.

We have a quote in one of our presentations from Thoreau that says, could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant? There's a story in the book that I read when we gave presentations about this by Alicia Waldman.

He's trained in oncology and palliative care, remarkably articulate and thoughtful human being.

He talks about, real quickly, he was moonlighting in the PICU as a palliative care fellow.

This young woman

was admitted, multiple complex

medical conditions, cerebral palsy, virtually immobile, certainly not commutative.

And at some point, the mother says, you know, my girl's hungry.

Can you start feeding? And he looks at her like she's got two heads, like your daughter didn't do anything.

How could you know she's hungry? And then, you know, one thing led to another.

Then as a palliative care physician, he goes on a home visit to their house.

And he thinks he sees the girl lying in bed on her side like she was before, staring into space.

And he walks around to look at her face, and she smiles at him.

Sorry.

It never ceases to tug at my heartstrings, this story, but...

Because we've all been there.

We've all looked at these children and said, how do you communicate with them? They can't possibly communicate.

And they do.

And we'll tell more.

But it's really important to use the parents as interpreters for these children.

Just because they're not verbal doesn't mean they can't communicate.

And there's a quote from one of the physicians.

Even if you don't believe what the parents believe, believe in the parents.

That's a beautiful anecdote and a beautiful quote, believe in the parents.

And communication.