5 Months: MCU scan

Andre was scheduled for the MCU test at 1.45pm at KKH today.

There was no sedation given. When we entered the lab, we were informed that the test will be carried out in 2 parts. 1st a catherer will be inserted into Andre's bladder. Parents are not allowed to be with the child. The 2nd part is the scanning of the child's bladder. One parent is allowed and i insisted to be the one with him.

As we waited outside, we could hear the poor boy crying. But i think he was more frightened being held down than the pain. If it was painful, i believe Andre's crying could actually gone a few octaves higher. It was done within 10 mins.

When i went in for the 2nd part, i was shocked to see my son bounded onto the fixture. He was wrapped so tightly that only his head and arms could move. The rest were like mummified and he looked like a poor little lamb ready to be slaughtered for some ritual on some elevated platform. I was asked to hold his hands and calm him down. A huge x-ray screen was pulled over his body. The dye was injected into the catherer and we had to wait for him to pee. Only when Andre is peeing, then we can see if there is any backflow of urine. The radiologist and attending Dr were very nice and they made sounds to calm the child down. We were done in 20 minutes for this part.

When we came out, the poor boy was whimpering, totally exhausted from howling for 40 mins. He fell asleep on daddy's shoulders immediately. We should have trim his nails in the morning, cos from all the struggling, he left a few scratches on his face. I think the procedure wasn't that painful, cos by afternoon, he seemed to have fogotten his little adventure earlier part of the day. And he was peeing as usual without any signs of pain.

In a way, i tell myself i need to be brave, even though the procedure seems very scary. If i'm frightened, my son can sense it and become more fearful. As parents, for the good of our child, we need to grit our teeth through the process cos prevention is better than cure. Come to think of it, we don't remember things that happen to us when we were 1 or 2 years old. While waiting outside, i saw a few newborns hooked up to oxygen tanks waiting for some scan, and i told myself to count my blessings.

Now i pray that the results will be optimistic. God, please bless this child.