Magical Supply Closet
As in Sallie Tisdale's The Beautiful Hospital, our family has had several not-as-portrayed-on-tv hospital adventures. One of the more comical was the doctor that believed in The Magical Supply Closet.
He arrived at Hannah's bedside to replace her old infant g-tube with a new button g-tube. He simply yanked the old one out and prepared to put the new button g-tube in. Only no button g-tube was at Hannah's bedside. He sent nurses to the Magical Supply Closet where, to his mind, one or more of each of the world's medical supplies eagerly awaited its new owner.
He grew angry when the nurses reported back that no button g-tube was in stock. The Magical Supply Closet was empty; the Elves, on lunch. He shouted at them. Why wasn't a button g-tube in stock! They checked again. They called around to see if any g-tube could be transfered to them. No luck.
So this doctor, busy blaming the nurses for his lack of preparation, innovated. He used a (sterile) urinary catheter tube instead: a true House moment.
Oh, as parents, we were so new & fresh back then: willing to challenge the doctors, but also willing to try something new. Suffice to say, when we went home with Hannah and monitored (with a Sharpie, we-started-here line) the fact that the catheter tube was not staying in place, coiling into her stomach instead, we called, verified that there was a button g-tube available, and had the catheter replaced quickly.
We routinely change out her button g-tube ourselves these days. We receive one or two a month from the supply company, whatever insurance will cover per the doctor's orders. And then we store it in our own Closet. And nudge the Elves awake.
-- Dad
