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So I was trying to wrote and share about my own kid's journey to see doctors in the past year, when out of the blue, I am now writing about my baby, who is currently in High Dependency, in the NUH PICU aka paeds ICU! Right now there's oxygen, ventolin, and iv lines etc etc.... and a day ago, I was just having lunch and buying a toy and durians to sneak home when things suddenly changed... such is the vulnerability of little lives... My baby goes to childcare, and you may know that that's a petri dish of bugs, you get a pro to help take care of your child, feed, dress, clean etc, but your baby is also in close proximity to other kids. Social distancing is non existent, and in an air con place, you'll share drool, aerosols etc. So it wasn't just Covid, there's all kinds of viruses that I'm just learning the names of.. RSV aka Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, Metapneumovirus and many more. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html Flashback to Friday pm, and baby gets another cough, a fever and some running nose. Yep, another URTI as they say. Ok, I have bought the panadol, the ibuprofen and the fever pads etc, so I have my usual SOP. The fever goes up to 39, no worries, still under control right... baby is still smiling, I sneak some ice cream and mango past mummy's eyes and baby is happy.. Then Sunday fever goes up, but smiles and alertness still no issues. But wife's maternal instincts kick in, and she insists we go see a doctor... I'm reluctant, I give her the Hollywood / standard official reply: "the situation is under control" speech, but she's not impressed, so we make an appointment for the nearby polyclinic, where we get jabs and meds. So to wind back, when my little 'un was born, for the first vax, and also review, we saw the specialist in NUH, especially since there was some jaundice. But wow... the bill was more than five hundred bucks! Anyway, the doctor is my old schoolmate, so he says I should go to the polyclinic for future jabs and general ailments. And wow, vaccinations and checkups are free at the poly! You even get free panadol, which costs a lot in a hospital! Plus, you can use apps like the OneNUHS to book appointments and change them. A far cry from when I used to queue for half a day at the old poly to see a doctor, and sit next to a whole bunch of sick people.. Now you get a nice separate area, pretty quick service, and thank you bros and fellow taxpayers, for paying for her meds. So I'm sold, I go there now when baby is sick, I book an appointment the night before, ask for time off and I can see someone, usually within an hour worth of waiting. The wait time is comparable to a GP now, and meds are far cheaper. Eczema creams are a fraction of the cost at a GP and even less than NUH. Likewise for the steroids, fungal stuff etc. So back to current issue... we reach the poly and we are the last. The young doctor has had a long day, but is still cheerful and takes a long look. She doesn't look happy. I hear "labored breathing, wheeze, use of chest muscles" and next thing I know, she writes a referral to the ED for my kid. I thought it might just be meds or something.. So I even send my wife home to get a shower to hunker down for the long wait at ED, whilst my MIL and I wait. Maybe some oxygen and some meds and I'm home, I'm still thinking... So we reach the "P3" area, and a nurse takes the vital signs. She doesn't say much, which isn't so good as usually there are some comforting words.. the MO arrives, takes the history, and reads the referral letter. After a quick check, in which I hear "creps", she scuttles off to make phone calls and next thing, we are whisked to the "P1" zone, where everyone is wearing N95. Ok.... it's getting more tense... Suddenly the senior doctor comes in and says we need to admit, and - And, straight into High Dependency! Wow... that really hit me.. The next part is the traumatic part... so my wife is really not ok with blood, so I stay in with baby whilst they take blood and set an IV line... and man... that was heartache... took three times, and it was the senior doctor doing it, so I know it was a pro... My baby was looking at me, crying and also crying papa, with eyes pleading me to help stop the pain... man, that's not easy to stomach... finally they get it in. Then they put me on a trolley bed with baby - no wheelchairs allowed it seems, with oxygen, adrenaline etc etc... We get wheeled everywhere it seems before coming to the ICU where the High Dependency ward is located.. It's an isolation room for anyone with infections, it looks like NCID, and there my baby lies with my wife until the results come back... I can't go in, but NUH partnered Ronald Macdonalds, and they sponsored a room for relatives to wait. This place is like the SIA lounge... tea, coffee, showers, soft chairs and even some titbits and wifi .... I'm going to eat more Macs - respect and salute them for giving this... I only found out today from another parent.. last night I was literally siting in darkness outside, and it was pretty dark at night there. It seems there's a viral bug outbreak, so I'm just another in the cohort. But those doctors at night were friendly and helpful despite being busy. Salute Now we watch, await test results of PCR and bloods, as well as give supportive treatment... Prayers are definitely welcome....