Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Hope in the Tiny Things

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Hope in the Tiny Things

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Hope in the Tiny Things
Posted by… suppressed (18) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Like a good little patient, Eela made her way through the hospital in her now ubiquitous grey mourning garb. She didn’t exactly ignore the attention her presence carried, but she didn’t acknowledge it either. She was here for herself, as often she was.

The cane in her right hand was now there for support but she found herself relying on it less to support her whole weight, which was a nice bonus and she was sure Jal’na would be glad for that fact. It had helped that Eela spent the rest of yesterday, and this morning, resting in a supported and prone position, trying to keeping pressure off her discs.

Arriving in the Primary Care Ward, Eela made her way down to the PT area where the anti-grav room was located. At her appointment time, after changing into patient’s garments, Eela laid on her stomach on the bed. It was then lowered (to minimize injury in case of some accident) and a loose band was affixed across her upper back. It didn’t hold her down, but it would stop her from lifting off the bed if she happened to move in the zero-G environment. The nurse and the tech made sure she was comfortable on pillows, her face downwards like when she had a massage. This wasn’t the first time she had had this treatment, but it was a first on Oed. She was also grateful that neither offered their condolences. They just let her be and for that she was very grateful. In fact, she was so relaxed she actually dozed off. The truth was that she had loved Zero-G training. While others were terrified of the experience and some had felt ill, Eela had enjoyed it tremendously. It had made her feel alive. And so as the room had kicked in, she all but sighed both in relief from the pressure on her spine, but also like something else was lifting too, even if she couldn’t identify what that was.

When her treatment was up, Eela got dressed and could feel the difference. Even if you discounted the floating feeling she had with each step, there was definitely a little less pain. She moved down the corridor with her cane, using it mostly (and most importantly right now) for stability. But half way back to the entrance to the department, Eela stopped. A thought crept into her mind and encouraged her to turn around and head back the department reception desk. “Excuse me, is Jal’na in and available at all? I was hoping to speak with her for a minute if she was.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“One moment and I will check.” The receptionist tapped her ear piece while typing on her screen. “Yes, she just finished a session. She is in her office. You can go back.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

“Thank you,” Eela said and moved slowly back down the hall. She approached the office and knocked before poking her head in. “Hey, do you have a minute?” The one thing she never did with Jal’na was put on a front. For one, the physiotherapist could see right through her when it came to her body, but also she had too much respect for Jal’na. Still, even Eela knew she was looking better than yesterday. Maybe not by tons, but it was a notable difference.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Jal’na looked up from her desk and motioned to the chair across from her. “Of course, have a seat. What is on your mind?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

She moved with mindful steps and sat, folding her hands in top of the cane. “So, I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that I am in fact taking a chunk of time off. The anti-grav session was actually quite nice so if you think I should do more, I can probably fit one or two sessions into the next seven to ten days that I will be off work.” It wasn’t like she had tons else to do, aside from when Batarael rolled around next week.

Jal’na nodded with a grunt of approval. “I will put the order in and you can schedule as what will fit into your own plans. I do not think you will need to make them a permanent part of your treatment, nor will we leave the brace at a higher level. For now though, it will give you some relief while you recover. We can reevaluate at your next PT session.”

“Okay,” she said with a nod. Eela wasn’t thinking it would need to be permanent either, but even she could see the temporary benefits having been that much farther away from the Kuskaaritz.

“But in the meantime I was thinking about a conversation I had with Doctor Fayth. She had brought up the volunteering you do in the NICU and it reminded me of when my son was premature and in intensive care. I’ve been thinking that I actually would really like to spend some time with the babies. There’s something about their energy that I think would really be good for me after everything lately, but also that I have some experience and know what some of the parents are going through. So I was wondering if you might be able to introduce me to whomever I would need to talk to about volunteering. Sharah said there was a bit of a process, but apparently I have time on my hands, so I don’t mind.” She was more earnest than she expected but then Eela considered what a beautiful gift the infants and her could give each other and she understood how much she needed something like this. There were no expectations, no decisions weighing on her shoulders. She could just offer some time and care to those who were fighting to make it through. She could empathize and also hopefully give some hope and strength to the tiny beings.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Jal’na appraised her intently. This was something that was very dear to Jal’na’s heart, and she took very seriously. It wasn’t that she thought Eela wasn’t serious or dedicated, but it was an intense and long term commitment. Some babies were only there for days, some months. Commitment could range from 5 to 7 days a week. Eela’s schedule was all ready very busy. It was the nature of her position, and she was very good at it. It didn’t leave much time for anything else. She tapped her console and logged out and stood. “Come, I will introduce you.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Pushing herself to her feet and using the cane to make sure it was as steady and smooth a movement as possible, Eela followed Jal’na out of her office glad her friend was willing to at least make the introduction. Eela would take it from there and just see what happened.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Jal’na led Eela up to the administrative wing. It was a bit of a walk, but Jal’na was careful of her pace. She pressed the chime on a door marked ‘Volunteer Office’. The door slid open and a Saurian man looked at them with large black eyes. “Jal’na! What can I do for you today?”

“Lt. Governor Dasca is interested in volunteering in the neonatal ICU,” the PT said as she motioned to Eela beside her. “Ah, wonderful! Wonderful! Please sit down, Ms Dasca.” He offered her a chair. “I will see you later, Eela. I have another appt to prepare for.” Jal’na nodded politely and left the office.

Eela gave Jal’na an appreciative nod as she took a seat, one hand resting on her cane.

The Saurian man sat across from her and smiled. “So, you are interested in volunteering in the NICU. Do you have any experience with children or families that have been in the NICU or PICU?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Eela took a measured breath and noises slowly. “Yes. My second child, my son, was born premature, and while there was no NICU on our starship, he spent just over a month in an incubator in Sickbay. So I know the experience intimately.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

He made a soft sound deep in his through. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. It is never easy. How do you see yourself volunteering? We have many needs that need to be met, and there is usually something to fit everyone’s strengths.”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

It was actually a good question and Eela took a few moments to think it over carefully. “I want to be able to spend time with the babies, especially if their parents can’t be there all the time. I know how hard that balance is. I also want to be able to support the parents. I’m an empath, so I am aware of what the babies are experiencing. Although some can’t be held, that special power of touch can do so much to regulate a body and mind. I can’t be on my feet for too long, especially right now,”-she tapped the cane gently on the floor-” but I can sit. I have a masters in psychology and was a therapist for thirteen years of my career. I’m not here to be a therapist, but I know how to hold space for others as they navigate difficult things.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“How much time do you realistically have to devote to this? I ask because parents are allowed to choose the volunteers for their children. It can be a commitment of a few days to months.”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

Eela nodded slowly. “I’m not in this for the short term. I’ve been wanting to carve out something for myself that isn’t related to my work. and once I commit to something, I stick with it. I have extra time the next week or so if there or processes that I need to go through before I start. I think early mornings will be the easiest to accommodate, maybe for half an hour to an hour? I’m not sure what is typically expected each time a volunteer comes in.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“Visits are an hour. The babies need at least that much time. You spend that whole time with the child, so plan to get here early to check in.” Derkiza pulled out a PaDD and handed it to her. “A complete medical, psychological, and criminal background check is required. You will fill out a profile for parents to read, and there are several training sessions to attend. The schedule is I. The PaDD.”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

A whole hour sounded wonderful and even though she knew these visits would be emotionally difficult some days depending on how the child was doing, she knew how beautiful a time it would be. Looking over the PADD, Eela nodded. “I will work on these requirements right away. Might I be able to get a medical check done now? Or given that I have regular care, would notes from my current care team be enough?”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“There are options for both. Your regular doctor might have to run some additional screens or suggest extra vaccinations. These children often have very weak immune systems, so we are very cautious. The PaDD containes a link to my contact, as well as the schedule for training. Get that all back as soon as you have time and I can approve you to attend the trainings. If you will take the time to sign the background information and sign consent for a check to be run, I can have that process started while you complete the rest.”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

“Absolutely,” she said with a nod and a smile.

Applying her thumbprint to the necessary areas, Eela was happy to get the ball rolling. To be honest, she wasn’t worried about the background checks. The ones done in order for her to even be interviewed by the Federation Council for her current role were extensive and Federation Security was nothing if not thorough. And the extra vaccinations she had maintained in Starfleet and in the Diplomatic Corps were extensive. In truth she was more nervous about the profile and whether a family would even want her as a volunteer. Despite her personal experience, she wanted to do this as Eela. On Oed it was hard not to be seen as the Lieutenant Governor first, or Captain Dasca. Perhaps they wouldn’t want someone who was in the public eye, even though she wasn’t intending to share her involvement publicly. The families deserved their privacy, and so did she.

“Anything else before I start taking care of these requirements?”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“No, that should be it. I will let you know once you’ve been approved,” Derkiza said. “Anything else I can answer?”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

She was quiet for several moments, truly giving herself time to work through her thoughts. “Not so much a question as a comment, I suppose. I just want to say that I understand that someone in my position can make for a more complicated option as volunteer. I will give serious thought to the profile I submit, but I truly want to do this as myself. As Eela. But I’m aware that the politics surrounding my position don’t disappear just because I step into this hospital. Everyone involved in my health care has been wonderful in treating me as an individual with as little fuss as possible, all things considered, but I do recognize that stepping out of the role of patient here in the hospital will make it harder to keep a separation from my work, and that that might discourage some families. I’m okay with and accept that. But perhaps there will be one family I can be a good fit for, and if so, I hope I can help bring even the smallest amount of comfort during their hospital experience. I know that if it weren’t for specific people who helped me navigate caring for a premature infant, I’m not sure we would have made it through as a family.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

All Derkiza could do was listen. “We have many diverse families who all have various needs and compatibility. I’m sure it will be fine. There is always a need, and if you are open to it, we can extend your profile to the PICU unit as well.”

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator

A genuine smile slipped onto her face and she nodded. “I would love that. I have a baby granddaughter, and I did raise two children. I’m open to whatever is needed, wherever I can be most helpful.”

With great care and mindfulness, Eela pushed herself to her feet. “Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“Oh no, it is I who owe you thanks. I look forward to getting the rest of your information Ms Dasca. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.” He stood and walked her to the door, shaking her hand before she left.

Derkiza, volunteer coordinator