Home Dialysis & Children

[skyedogrocks]

How many of you who do home dialysis have children?  Are they younger (around 8 yo)?  How do they handle it?

I'm asking because we may be adopting a child soon and we want to know how kids handle this.  I know it is different for each child, but just looking for any experience with it.

Thanks!

[Bette]

I have a seven year old and she handles it really well.  She knows that she can't be in the room when mom hooks up, but she will come in after I have hooked up and watch tv and stuff with me.  It helps to have a partner in case she needs something during the night when I can't go downstairs.

[rimbo74]

I have a 4 yr old daughter that doesn't mind it.  I would let her watch what i was doing.  She asked a lot of questions but knows its helping her daddy.  She always wants to see the tube in my belly.   

[KT0930]

I have an eight year old boy, and I do CAPD. When I first started, he always wanted to watch me hook-up, so I would make him wash his hands just as thoroughly as if he was going to be doing the work for me, and make him wear a mask. He didn't always want to do all that, so then I would tell him he'd have to leave the room while I hooked up. Now I've been doing dialysis for about nine months, and it's just part of life now. He barely notices the IV poles, bags, masks, etc. The hardest part is in the mornings, getting me ready for work (yes, I work full-time), him ready for camp or school, and a treatment done, all before leaving the house at 6:30am.

Unlike rimbo74, though, my tube and exit site really gross him out, he doesn't want to see them....shouldn't an 8 yo boy think that stuff is cool? LOL.

[goofynina]

Although i do not have kids of my own, i have 19 Godchildren and many nieces and nephews and kids that i used to take care of in my daycare that still keep in touch with me.  I always get them involved in what i am doing, whether it is stripping down my machine or setting it up, they think its great    I even let my littlest niece, Jaylynn, who is 2 going on 15    help give me my epo shots.  They all know the routine of washing their hands thoroughly, wearing the mask and all that good stuff and they love it (and it helps me too)