Miracle Kids

Cole

Nine-year old Cole Hobbs really wanted to go back for the second day of vacation bible school last summer, even though he had started to complain of a headache. Cole's mom, Lori Hobbs, had nursed little brother Kyle through a mild fever only days before, so she wasn't too worried. But when she picked Cole up at noon, she knew this illness was different. Cole was shivering and said his head "hurt all over". She immediately took Cole to the Scott & White Belton Clinic for an appointment with Dr. Michael Hagen who initially suspected Cole was suffering from viral tonsillitis.

Cole was still feeling ill the next day so his dad, Brad Hobbs, stayed home with him while Mrs. Hobbs accompanied Kyle to his All Star game. Dr. Hagen's son was also playing ball that night, so when Mr. Hobbs called his wife to say that Cole had begun vomiting, Dr. Hagen sent her home with a prescription for nausea.

Cole was still very sick the next morning. When Dr. Hagen saw him at the clinic early that afternoon, Cole's eyes were very sensitive to any light. This new development was an indication that Cole had developed meningitis, an inflammation of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He sent the family straight to the emergency room. Mrs. Hobbs says, "Dr. Hagen is awesome, so caring and thorough. There was no way for him to know that Cole would develop meningitis when he first saw him, but he took immediate action when the signs pointed to that diagnosis. I knew Cole was in the best of hands."

Dr. Hagen had called ahead to prepare the emergency room staff who immediately moved Cole to a private examination room. Cole was in intense pain and dehydrated, so the staff started an intravenous line for fluids and pain medication. Mrs. Hobbs was relieved when Cole almost immediately closed his eyes and slept. It was his first restful moment in days. A spinal tap was ordered, and a child life specialist was called in to be with Cole through the procedure.

A child life specialist is a member of the pediatric health care team who is trained to help children understand medical procedures and diagnoses through therapeutic play. They focus on the emotional, social and developmental needs of hospitalized children, easing the trauma of hospitalization by providing support to the child and his family. Scott & White has a dedicated child life specialist on call for emergency room duty at all times. When Cole Hobbs was admitted to the emergency room, the child life team was there to help him.

"They were great," Mrs. Hobbs said. "They explained the spinal tap, step by step, to both of us. Cole was still a little out of it from the medication, but their explanation was very calming for me. They stayed right there until it was all done, and then popped in and out the entire evening. They checked on lab results, kept us updated on his admission, and kept me informed on every aspect of the process. It was so helpful."

Each member of the Scott & White child life team is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). Child Life specialists have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, with training in child development, education, psychology and counseling. Following a full year devoted to a practicum and internship, candidates for certification sit for an examination offered by the Child Life Council. Scott & White child life staff members are required to complete the certification process within eighteen months of employment. The Scott & White child life program also serves as an accredited clinical training site for other prospective child life specialists. Each year, four to five candidates complete their clinical training at Scott & White in preparation for the certification exam.

Services provided to children by the Child Life department will not be found on a hospital bill. At the Children's Hospital at Scott & White, this important program is funded in part each year by donations to Children's Miracle Network.

When Cole Hobbs was admitted to the pediatric inpatient wing of the hospital, he was placed on a regimen of powerful antibiotics and supportive therapy. Mrs. Hobbs remembers, "From the moment we got to the ER, everyone was wonderful. There was one certified nurse assistant who was so kind to Cole. He really needed to drink because of his dehydration, and she would tease him and play with him until she could get him to drink his Gatorade or eat his Popsicle. She really seemed to care about her job, from changing his bed to getting his shower."

Convinced the meningitis was viral, the physician team still carefully checked the spinal tap culture on a daily basis, watching for any indication that a bacterial infection was developing. Thankfully, the worst case scenario did not materialize, and the illness began to subside. Cole made steady progress and was able to enjoy therapeutic play with the Child Life team members who brought Cole a television, Nintendo, checkers and other games.

"They really wanted him to feel at home," Mrs. Hobbs said. When Cole's condition improved, he was also able enjoy the video games and other activities available in the Child Life Playroom. By Saturday, he was on his way home.
Today, Cole is as good as new. Lori Hobbs is an elementary school teacher, and she has seen the residual damage that meningitis can cause in young children. She is very grateful for Cole's complete recovery, and happy to share her emergency room experiences.

"You hear so many bad things about emergency rooms," she said, "but it was wonderful at Scott & White. Everyone was friendly and helpful. They really cared about us. It is so comforting to know if something ever happens, we have this place to come to where I know they will take care of us."

Cole missed his own All Star Game during his illness, but his teammates saved his t-shirt for him. Now in fourth grade, he is looking forward to next summer. Cole has even had another medical emergency, but this time it was just one of those regular events of boyhood. The contrast to last summer's emergency brought a smile of relief to her face as Mrs. Hobbs explained, "We had to take him to the Belton Clinic so Dr. Parker could remove a fish hook from his finger."

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