Mom to 3, Pediatric Emergency doctor @ChildrensPgh, general juggler of many hats. All seasons runner. Pocus enthusiast. Infinitival copula advocate. (she/her)
True story...
Trauma bay, adult hospital
Me: Tell me your name,sir?
Patient: Joe
Me: AIRWAY INTACT. *warms stethoscope diaphragm with hand, auscultates chest* BREATH SOUNDS BILATERALLY
Charge RN: Are you some kind of pediatrician?
Me: Yes. Why do you ask?
#alwaysapediatrician
For any medicine team who’ll be pulling pediatricians to work with them in the next few weeks, just know that every presentation will begin with you hearing how the 68 year-old admitted for diarrhea and dehydration is JUST THE CUTEST THING EVER
1/
#WhatsYourWhy
Last week
Him: "Are you. . . Manning?"
Me: "Yup."
*pause*
Him: "Okay, just to be clear: Ma'am, I'm here only to take payment and remove the immobilizers from your tires. I can't handle any disputes or anything."
Me: "Uhh. . .okay."
He adjusted his mask.
The full stories are my patients’ to tell but they each weigh heavy on my heart
Believing in alternate realities will not end this pandemic
The only way out of this that I can see is through vaccination and mask wearing
#MaskUp#getyourshot
Thinking today how conspiracy theories play on emotions
My Covid stories are emotional & they are real
They are pressing bag valve masks to baby cheeks, terrified parents, devastated families, parents pushed beyond breaking points, new cuts over old scars, failed IVs, lost homes
I’ve seen so many kids this year with mental illness exacerbations, beating themselves up for “backsliding”
Meanwhile, kids with flared Crohns, epilepsy, Diabetes, etc., lead with, my disease sucks & this pandemic is not helping
I wish we had this objectivity with mental health
1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 2 of 7
Cashier
Them: *ringing up items* “You find everything okay?”
Me: “Yup.”
Them: “I like your hair.”
Me: “Hey—thanks.”
Them: *nods while continuing to swipe items*
*beep-beep-beep*
Them: “Is that highlights? Or . . . .“
Me: “Grey?”
*laughter*
Save the date! On January 20th at 3:30 ET, we are hosting a journal club to discuss decision analytic models of #COVID19-related school closures. Drs. @KathyAugerpeds, @laprosser, and @SalomonJA will present.
Visit https://t.co/R0euSwucrt to get a Zoom link and more info.
Story: Woman loses child care support— which causes her to miss a dialysis appointment—she then develops difficulty breathing because of skipping kidney dialysis. She goes to ER, but hospital full of #COVID19–barely survives.
Moral: CHILDCARE SUPPORT NOW!
https://t.co/Tuvw5Vwqxm
@DShadowgazer Answer: Plane
Expertise: Know some pilots, toured some commercial cockpits, took college physics
Rationale: Machines are more predictable than humans. Pretty sure it’s all run by computers anyway.
(This tweet is 80% sarcasm 😉)
Tomorrow, 2 of my kids are going back to school in person after 8 weeks away
Today, I awoke at 4am in a panic because I dreamed that I forgot to complete their daily COVID screen
My pandemic anxiety doesn’t take a day off
Pennsylvania officials announced updated guidelines for school districts, recommending that elementary students return to buildings for face-to-face instruction. https://t.co/sHGwwHid64
Me: Y’all want leftovers for lunch?
10yo: We want a #TopChef competition!
Me: What?
8yo: Eggs! Me vs 10yo
6yo: I’m the judge!
10yo: Set the timer, Mom!
🥚🥚🍳🍳 ⏲ 🍽🍽😋
6yo: 8yo, pack your knives & go.
6yo: Tomorrow, it’s a panini challenge
The situation with prevalence of #COVID19 , uncertainty over a new variant of the virus, and discussions about school re-openings have never been more complex
Whatever anyone says, there is nothing simple here
Listen to those who acknowledge the costs - in all directions
The Pittsburgh Infant Brain Injury Score targets imaging to infants most likely to benefit. By limiting radiation exposure, rapid #MRI may enhance value of strategies to detect & evaluate #AbusiveHeadTrauma. @MamaKateMD
@kenjsmith_98 @ChildrensPgh@ChpPem https://t.co/kmKOkDF9dt