Tarot is Terrific

Typically at day 8 in a hospitalization, Garrett’s frustration begins. That’s the day he starts to incessantly ask about going home, begs to see friends, and really wants to get back to school. Monday, we doubled that 8 day mark- day 16 at CHOP. These 16 days are compounded by three and a half months of not being settled because of a move, and not seeing friends or being in school because of COVID-19. Garrett, like all kids right now, is looking for a return to normal.

But nothing is really normal right now for anyone. The hospital routine, to which Garrett had become accustomed over the years and in which he took some comfort, has changed. The normal flow of the day is completely different. Doctors rounds no longer happen in the hallway, making it eerily quiet. Parents can not use refrigerators, microwaves or washers, but instead must ask a nurse for assistance if they want or need something done. (This extra work must be exhausting for nurses, by the way.)

Interacting with children in the playroom is not allowed, in fact kids aren’t even allowed in the playroom. Music and art groups, once Garrett’s favorite hospital activities, have been cancelled due to the pandemic. And then there are the contact precautions. For much of this stay and his last one in April, everyone who cared for Garrett had to wear gowns and gloves in addition to their masks. Dozens of nurses, doctors, environmental staff, medical assistants, food service staff- all in his room all in the same yellow gowns, orange masks and blue gloves. A parade of matching people telling him what to do and to stay in his room is not making for the happiest guy.

But then there is Tarot. Tarot hasn’t changed. Tarot makes rounds in the hallway. Tarot doesn’t tell Garrett to swallow pills or give him injections. Tarot doesn’t wear a mask, which is a good thing too, because it’s much harder to lick you with one on. 

Tarot is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and one of Garrett’s favorite CHOP therapy dogs. When Garrett heard Tarot was coming a second week in a row, he camped outside his room for an hour so as to not miss the dog.

                  

Those two minutes with Tarot were the best of Garrett’s day, and I think, Tarot felt the same.