My 9 year old patient was raped and required surgery

Nurses Safety

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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 med/surg.

Thanks everyone. We just got back from a pretty intense therapy session. She is doing well though, we are all just so wore out at this point but it will get better. It looks like we are going to trial on Feb. 2 is the arraignment I guess. I was hoping they'd just plead guilty maybe there's still a chance that will happen I think that what is going on this first court date, entering their pleas I guess. Just ready for it to be done with and have them behind bars so we can all rest easier. They are not moving forward with charging the mom, which is sad to a degree. Anyway I need to go for now but everyone is okay. Thanks for the concern.

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Specializes in Tele.

So sad, I hear so many stories like this that happen on other floors in my peds hospital.

Defensless children...

Over the summer in the NICU we had a 7 week old baby with an orifice as big as a quarter with scar tissue, and all broken limbs-- the older siblings admitted the baby & them were hit a lot by their parents.

these people shouldn't be allowed to have children. what a shame.

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Specializes in Tele.
Sorry I haven't been on here in so long. She is doing just wonderful. But we have had a setback of another type recently. Apparently squirrels have been in my attic chewing on electrical wires and last week the second floor of my house burnt. Everyone is fine and we were able to save alot of our belongings from the first floor of the house. I just feel awful that this poor girl had to endure yet another scary situation in my home. SHe is handling it very well. Luckily I also own a rent house that the tenants had just moved out of last month so that's where we are living until I am able to get the other house rebuilt. The kids are doing great but I am about ready for some Ativan lol. I was afraid that she would be removed from me because of the fire but her caseworker came and did another home study on the other house we've moved in to and said everything is fine and she wants her to stay with me because she is doing so well with us. She is up playing quite a bit and hopefully will be released to go back to school next week. We are still waiting for a trial date. Thanks again for all the prayers and support.

I had no idea you kept the girl, I admire you for your courage and great heart.

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Specializes in med/surg.

:rcgtku:

I had no idea you kept the girl, I admire you for your courage and great heart.
Yes she's become my little princess, ruler of the house lol. She's doing great. We all have strep throat and now I have conjuctivitis on top of everything else. I am just keeping a real close eye on her, but she seems to be doing fine. She will be going back to school probably Wed. after she's had enough time on the new antibiotics for the strep. She's a little nervous about a new school but again she's tougher than anyone I've ever known so it will be fine. I'm hoping she'll be in my daughters class so she'll be a little more at ease. I will have to talk to the principal about it Monday. I wish all of you were able to meet her and see her, she is such a doll. Just a beautiful child. I am truly blessed to have the honor of being her foster mother and hopefully some day an adoption will occur.
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Specializes in CTICU.

God bless you, ssouthernyankee! How on earth you keep so positive in the face of these things amazes me. You've an incredible spirit.

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Specializes in geriatrics,med/surg,vents.

I just found this thread and read it through,what an amazing story!It seems that you and your family are just what this poor child needed.Now she will be able to live a life where she is loved and protected.You and your whole family,including the newest member,are an inspiration to all of us.Please keep us updated,I don't know how you did it,I'm exhausted just reading about it.

How are things working out with your house?

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Specializes in med/surg.
I just found this thread and read it through,what an amazing story!It seems that you and your family are just what this poor child needed.Now she will be able to live a life where she is loved and protected.You and your whole family,including the newest member,are an inspiration to all of us.Please keep us updated,I don't know how you did it,I'm exhausted just reading about it.

How are things working out with your house?

Yes we feel like we belong together and we were brought together by someone up above. She was meant to be with us. As far as how I did it, I don't really know the answer. Just saw a need and Knew i could do something about it instead of just hoping she'd turn out okay. I do get exhausted but I just keep reminding myself that it's for a greater good and I need to keep my head up and just keep on truckin'. The house we are living in now is fine, It's a little smaller but we all still have our own bedrooms so it will work just fine until I rebuild the other house. That will take awhile to get done, probably not until Spring will the contractors really get going on it. Not a big deal though. Thank you for the kind words. I don't know about being an inspiration, to me she is the inspiration--she hasn't let those monsters break her spirit.
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Specializes in Clinical exp in OB, psy, med-surg, peds.

my heart goes out to that child, I am with tears right now, I could not of handle that, cheers to you

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Specializes in LTC.

i am glad to hear that everything is going good but i was wondering since they are not going to press charges against her mom is it possible that she will get custody of her when the court stuff is all said and done?

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Specializes in med/surg.
i am glad to hear that everything is going good but i was wondering since they are not going to press charges against her mom is it possible that she will get custody of her when the court stuff is all said and done?
Although they decided not to press charges on her mother the possibility of her ever getting her back are slim to none from what I understand. Our caseworker has told me that the mom has been going every weekend visiting the dad in the county jail, so she is standing right behind him all the way. I could just choke her if given the chance. So I believe that lil one will be with us for a long time, I pray anyway!!
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Specializes in LTC.

well that's good to know and i pray that she will be with you for a long time, too!

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Specializes in ICU, home health, public health.

Jesus...I just saw this post and can't help but write...even though we are in february already... makes me cry.... Just hold her. that is why I don't work w/ children... I'd be crying the life out of me... just can't handle it. God bless you for the work you do...

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