A trip to the ER

Jan joined the Men of the Year when he turned 40 to grow during a decade to a group of friend that would celebrate their 50th birthday together, all in the traditions of the Unesco cultural heritage here in Leuven. With the men of the year, we've celebrated several Abraham celebrations in Leuven. Past Saturday, it would be Jan's turn with the Men of 72. 

We had a lazy morning but when we told Beertje to get dressed before noon so we could start getting ready to hit downtown, he comes down again pointing to his chest and crying that it hurts.  He cries more and more and is hot and in panic.  A chest...could be a stupid hit in the ribs,  or is he having breathing difficulty or heart issues?   But he's quite hot...from stress or fever?

We leave right away while he's crying to the car, which stresses me out on my way to the doctors on call in the weekend. I haven't taken any food right now at lunch time, forgot the remaining rule to wear face masks in medical facilities etc.  Fortunately I can park right in front and fortunately I can dig up a cloth face mask at the bottoms of my purse and fortunately there doesn't seem to be too many people in the waiting room. But Beertje continues to cry, doesn't want to see a youtube movie or game on my phone and I stress. I should have driven to the ER instead to the general family doctors.  Am I losing precious time? Is this serious or not at all, I have no clue, but I've never seen him complain like this. I hear the other waiting patients whisper "that boy is quite in pain". Ugh yeah.   I am really wondering if I should phone an ambulance when the doctor calls us in...a very quick exam of the chest doesn't give any indication and she suggests to drive to the ER....right, that's what I had been doubting in the last half hour all along. 

We first stumble to the open pharmacy further in the street to seek some painkiller as I don't want to spend more time in a waiting room while he's clearly suffering.  "How long before this pill works? I don't feel any difference yet" he mumbles 1 minute after taking it. I promise he'll feel difference quite quickly, while we head for the ER of Gasthuisberg 3km further...one of Belgium's biggest hospitals.  They have followed him after birth closely for his duplicated urether. 

Upon arrival Beertje has become more calm and interested in the process at the ER, which is much more boring and calm than you'd expect.  We wait for the triage, get sent to the pediatric ER waiting room and the waiting process starts.   Jan who has left with Kabouter to the downtown celebrations, texts now and then for an update status. WE ARE BORED is the answer. AND HUNGRY.  

Finally it's our turn and my happy and calm and painless boy gets examined without any indicator.  He was painfree he claimed.  Lungs were fine and the ECG of the heart too, we learn after more waiting time.  A few hours after our arrival we are cleared to go home and all is fine. Probably he has had severe muscle pain/ cramp and panicked.  He's enthusiastic to quickly rush downtown to go and see his brother and go to the fair.  We arrive 10 minutes after all ceremonies for the men of the year have finished. ugh great but we still drink something together.