My 9 year old patient was raped and required surgery

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I currently have a 9 year old girl I am taking care of on unit. She was raped resulting in surgical repair to entire pelvic floor and also needed a colostomy. As I change her sheets and such I just don't know what to do. I cry everytime I walk in there. I just want to hold her. She isn't allowed visitors and she is so scared. My heart is breaking. Any advice?

Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

I will continue to pray she overcomes this latest setback, Once again I want to let you know what a wonderful person you are.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Thanks everyone. She is in good spirits, she is such a trooper. She is managing her beautiful little smile through all of this. Her temp is up and down as is her BP. I have a gut feeling that she's going to be ok, just breaking my heart watching this. It is a different feeling to be so personally involved with a pt. She asks me to lay by her until she falls asleep everyday. When she falls asleep I sneak over to the chair and just bawl my eyes out. I have never been "overly" religous until now I have prayed more this week than my entire life. I just can't wait until the day I get to carry her out of here and put her to sleep in the room I have fixed up for her at home. I told her today that there are alot of other people who are pulling for her and thinking about her everyday and she lit up with that smile of hers. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

You both are in our prayers. I'm so glad you have each other during this scary time. One blessing is that kids tend to be pretty resilient and, right now, that's good. Just remember all the prayers being offered up in both your names and, hopefully, that will give you the strength to ride out this latest storm so you can support and comfort your special child.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

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Wow you are such an angel

You know, sex offenders are at the bottom of the totem pole in prisons, Let's hope they don't put him in the "special needs" yard.

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Specializes in nursing student.

I really commend you for your efforts. I think about you both and pray for you. Good luck and I hope she keeps getting better.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Her temp has gone down and she's actually passing some gas yeah!! On another note...earlier as I was sitting beside her on the bed she asked me if it would be ok to tell me what happened to her. I said of course if you feel like you want to that would be fine you are in a safe place. She then tells me what her dad did the last time that ended in her being brought to the ED. Oh my I can't even tell you how horrific this is. I hugged her and cried with her for a long time and then she peacefully fell asleep. I immediately wrote down word for word what she told me. I am going to speak to the prosecutor with her case worker tomorrow. This is the first she has spoken of what she went through. I feel honored that she trusted me enough to open up. I just hope she understands that I have to tell the prosecutor. Her (our)therapist will be in the a.m. I am going to have her help explain to her that we have to tell so that we can keep her safe. She told me that she wanted to tell the police but was too afraid when they were asking her who had hurt her. Her dad is already in the county jail waiting for court date I want to make sure he doesn't get bailed out in the mean time. There is also another person who was involved that they need to locate and arrest. Never in a million years did I think my career would involve anything like this. I'm sorry for rambling it's hard to talk to my coworkers about any of this they can't handle it and some are upset with me for getting involved. Thanks for letting me vent on here.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab,Med/Surg, OB/GYN, Ortho, Neuro.

Southernyankee, from the bottom of my and thousands of other nurses hearts, "Thank you for what you are doing for this little girl." You have gone above and beyond to be this child's advocate, to take care of her and show her unconditional love and compassion, of which she is sorely lacking in her life. Not only have you been the one that she has bonded with, but the fact the she has opened up to you about a very difficult subject, speaks volumes of everything that you are doing for her. You were placed in her path for a reason, and with you in her corner, supporting and nurturing her, I have no doubts that she will grow and blossom, and see that there are still great people in this world. Again, Thank you :redpinkhe

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

You were just great! You really came through like a seasoned pro! Ya done good!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

That had to be about the hardest thing you've ever had to listen to so far in your life but you did it! Every last one of us is so proud of you right now. You are absolutely fantastic because although it certainly must have dredged up some terrible memories from your own past, you just hugged her closer and kept listening. As I stated in an earlier post, I hope a couple of 8' men with names like "Tiny" and "Bubba" will welcome the two men properly to their new home.

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God has a special place in heaven for you! I have been keeping up with this story because I just can't believe someone would hurt a child like that. It brings me to tears each time I think about this little girl.

I am so glad she has you as her nurse. It was meant for you and this little girl's paths to cross for a reason. Since you are now gonna be her foster mother, how has this affected your work relationship with others nurses/management on the unit?

How are your kids reacting to this?

Is the little girl looking foward to meeting your kids? And do she have biological siblings?

I'm so glad that SOB (and I don't mean shortness of breath), poor excuse for a human being, daddy of hers is locked up. I say put him in general population and let them have their way with him.

If she has biological siblings, I hope they are removed from that home STAT!

I can't stand people who prey on innocent kids and hurt them. Thank God for people like you who go into nursing and make a big difference in someone's life. That little girl will be so grateful for you being her nurse!

Keep us posted.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

southernyankee:flowersfo, you are truly one of the "great ones", my hat goes off to you for all the love and support that you have shown this little girl.:bow:

i'm a true believer that every one has a purpose in life. the thing is, we don't know when this purpose may confront us, or how we will handle it when the time comes. this little girl needed someone at this horrific moment in her life you were there to provide her with all that she needed and more. it takes a true angel to be strong when you feel like being weak, because of the compassion that you have for others. at that very moment when you wanted to break down and cry, you stood strong (and sometimes alone) and went beyond the "norm" despite how others may have felt.

thanks again, you are an inspiration to me. i'm not a nurse "yet" and will be starting my first semester of nursing school. i hope at the end of my day i can be proud of the care that i've shown, knowing that my life as a nurse is not just a career, but has a purpose, that i can honestly say...today i made a differance!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

God bless you for what you do! This is the very reason I will not/can not take care care of children......I would end up in prison. I am so disgusted, furious, sickened........that poor little innocent baby!

My prayers & thoughts are with you & this child.....I cannot express how much I admire you & what you do.

Please take care of yourself too.

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Specializes in nursing student.

You keep amazing me, you have got to be one of the most compassionate and loving people I have met in a long time. You have and continue to go above and beyond to help this little girl. She hasn't been able to trust anyone enough to tell them what happened to her until you, the care and love you have given her has allowed her to open up to someone. I am sure that she will understand What you have to do since it will keep her attackers from doing this to others. I am also quite sure that she will be absolutely terrified as well but comforted with you by her side. I sincerely hope that everything goes well and that your co-workers end up supporting you. I'm sure that they simply can not begin to understand why you are getting so involved with a complete stranger but you were put in that childs life for a reason and you have followed your heart to be able to help her and care for her.

God Bless.

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