[shy_bear]

We took Baby A for his eval today. He is going to need PT once a week. His muscle tone is very high, everyone thinks he has torticollis, his head is flat on the left side, and when lying flat on his back is symmetry if off. I KNOW I did not do any of this to him...but I feel so guilty. I want to cry!!!! What is wrong with me???? I just want him to be ok.
We have to wait a couple of weeks for PT to start. We are going to a new doc next week, b/c the one we were seeing just is not getting the job done. The evaluators gave us a hand out on torticollis and after reading it the doc should have done more than she did. He also has continual chest congestion. The doc told me it is common in baby's and should go away on its own. The evaluators said we need to discuss with his doc have a respitory specialist look at him. My poor baby, I just want to hug him and make it all go away!!!

[zebramom]

Slap the doc!! Wish there was something to say to make it easier. PT and OT can actually be kind of fun. Lots of good bonding time.

Good luck. We saw tremendous changes with our little one once she started therapy.

[qs mom]

Feeling guilty just comes with the territory. I feel that way all the time. When I get a note from school saying he had a bad day - I apologize. When he just doesn't get something - I feel bad - WHY can't he get it? What did I do wrong? When he's with other kids and doesn't fit in? I really feel guilty. But, I didn't leave him in a crib for 2 years. I didn't neglect him for over 2 years. Someone else did. I feel guilty that I didnt have him from the beginning. I think that my sorrow feels like guilt.

[Barksum]

I agree with Q; guilt goes with the territory. I usually think that there was something that I could/should have done. Even if there isn't anything I could/should have done.

And Q's Mom is right that sometimes sorrow DOES feel like guilt. Also, the sadness I feel for various issues stemming from my kids' lives prior to them coming to us hits me at different times, for different reasons. Watching them struggle and knowing that most of what is causing them a struggle at that particular point was preventable really upsets me at times. I have to remember, though, that ALL people struggle through things, even children, and that is NORMAL. I just do my part in helping them to figure out how to overcome obstacles, etc.

Hang in there, Shy Bear. (((hugs))) Also follow Zebra's advice to slap the doc! I think that's what gets me much of the time; I have to know what is going on in order to get the appropriate care for my kids, from special issues to things as 'simple' as a broken arm. It gets old to have to know how to figure it all out all the time!