Illegal Families and Broken Wings
"Dr. P.," the nurse urgently beckoned. "Come have a look at this arm."
Comfortably snoozing, nude on a warmer after just having been born, was a large baby girl, her left arm hanging limply at her side.
For the past few weeks I have been the supervising pediatrician in our hospital's newborn nursery. As an urban hospital serving poor, ethnically diverse families and because it is widely known we turn no one away, many new immigrants to the U.S. choose to deliver their babies here.
I examined the infant. Indeed her left arm was limp, while her right had unrestricted movement. But otherwise she was a spectacular new human, radiating beauty and promise, as all babies do.
And she was big, almost 9 pounds. The stress of a vaginal delivery -- with the shoulder getting hung up in the birth canal as she made her laborious exit -- caused an injury to the nerves which stimulate the muscles of that arm. It's called an Erb's Palsy (or "brachial plexus injury"). The good news is that the nerve is rarely permanently damaged and typically begins to fire up again in the next weeks to months, with the arm recovering full function.
"Looks like an Erb's all right," I told the nurse (who, of course, already knew). "I'll take the baby out to her mom and go talk to the family about it."
****************************************.
Did I mention that the mom would be likely be classified as an illegal immigrant if she over-stayed her visa to the U.S.?
I was reminded that some advocate the arrest of illegal immigrants and would mandate that I report this mom to the immigration authorities should she stay too long so we could deport her back to where she belongs. The debate about what to do with the flood of illegal immigrants is important and complicated and excruciating -- legally, ethically, socially -- and I don't pretend to have found the right answer, the right balance.
But I realized with that mom and baby, with that story, there was no way I could ever do something to jeopardize her staying in the U.S. for as long as she wanted. And it occurred to me that it was hypocritical if I advocated harsh responses to illegal immigrants in the abstract but wilted in the face of real people, and that whatever position I held should be consistent with my feelings in that room.
And I thought and think that it must be so that wise men and women can find a fair and humane way for we lucky Americans to make room for other people who -- legal or otherwise -- seek shelter from the storm in this glorious idea of a country, where broken wings can mend and human dreams can fly.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: newborn, immigration, healthcare
Comfortably snoozing, nude on a warmer after just having been born, was a large baby girl, her left arm hanging limply at her side.
For the past few weeks I have been the supervising pediatrician in our hospital's newborn nursery. As an urban hospital serving poor, ethnically diverse families and because it is widely known we turn no one away, many new immigrants to the U.S. choose to deliver their babies here.
I examined the infant. Indeed her left arm was limp, while her right had unrestricted movement. But otherwise she was a spectacular new human, radiating beauty and promise, as all babies do.
And she was big, almost 9 pounds. The stress of a vaginal delivery -- with the shoulder getting hung up in the birth canal as she made her laborious exit -- caused an injury to the nerves which stimulate the muscles of that arm. It's called an Erb's Palsy (or "brachial plexus injury"). The good news is that the nerve is rarely permanently damaged and typically begins to fire up again in the next weeks to months, with the arm recovering full function.
"Looks like an Erb's all right," I told the nurse (who, of course, already knew). "I'll take the baby out to her mom and go talk to the family about it."
**************************************
The room was dark and hot and close, with five or six extended family members huddled around the exhausted mom. "Hi, I'm Dr. P. I just examined your gorgeous, not-so-little girl. Congratulations. She's great and healthy. There's just one problem I want to talk to you about..."
I explained about the palsy and how it almost invariably resolved. Suddenly mom began to wail inconsolably, shaking with emotion and (it looked like) terror. "Really," I stammered. "I know you're worried, but the odds are great her arm will be just fine."
Mom kept crying and clutched her baby tightly to her chest. Eventually, one of the family members filled me in. Mom had recently come to the U.S. from a war-torn country to have her baby. In the hell that had been her life, apparently one of the terror measures by the insurgents was the threat of (and actual) disabling of the limbs of infants and children. It was called the "broken wing" campaign.
I've seen enough PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) to recognize when an acute event triggers an incapacitating flood of horrible memories and emotions. What can you say in the face of such a story, of such an experience, of such raw hurt? "It's OK. It's OK. You're here and everyone is safe and your baby is going to be fine," I soothed lamely and left the room.
I explained about the palsy and how it almost invariably resolved. Suddenly mom began to wail inconsolably, shaking with emotion and (it looked like) terror. "Really," I stammered. "I know you're worried, but the odds are great her arm will be just fine."
Mom kept crying and clutched her baby tightly to her chest. Eventually, one of the family members filled me in. Mom had recently come to the U.S. from a war-torn country to have her baby. In the hell that had been her life, apparently one of the terror measures by the insurgents was the threat of (and actual) disabling of the limbs of infants and children. It was called the "broken wing" campaign.
I've seen enough PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) to recognize when an acute event triggers an incapacitating flood of horrible memories and emotions. What can you say in the face of such a story, of such an experience, of such raw hurt? "It's OK. It's OK. You're here and everyone is safe and your baby is going to be fine," I soothed lamely and left the room.
****************************************.
Did I mention that the mom would be likely be classified as an illegal immigrant if she over-stayed her visa to the U.S.?
I was reminded that some advocate the arrest of illegal immigrants and would mandate that I report this mom to the immigration authorities should she stay too long so we could deport her back to where she belongs. The debate about what to do with the flood of illegal immigrants is important and complicated and excruciating -- legally, ethically, socially -- and I don't pretend to have found the right answer, the right balance.
But I realized with that mom and baby, with that story, there was no way I could ever do something to jeopardize her staying in the U.S. for as long as she wanted. And it occurred to me that it was hypocritical if I advocated harsh responses to illegal immigrants in the abstract but wilted in the face of real people, and that whatever position I held should be consistent with my feelings in that room.
And I thought and think that it must be so that wise men and women can find a fair and humane way for we lucky Americans to make room for other people who -- legal or otherwise -- seek shelter from the storm in this glorious idea of a country, where broken wings can mend and human dreams can fly.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: newborn, immigration, healthcare
6 Comments:
Living in this country, we so easily forget the circumstances of so many---one can only imagine this mother's terror in the face of an otherwise benign medical situation---how often, I wonder, is she filled with terror even in this country---Of course we should offer sanctuary even as we--or perhaps BECAUSE we recognize how much we don't understand
Just to express my appreciation for your wise words (as usual).
I live in Italy and I have found your blog while searching for advices for my wonderful newborn (Alice's 14 months by now, BTW).
I know many M.D.'s (I develop and maintain several health-related software systems...) and I can tell your wisdom - while not unique - is not so common. [Fortunately, I've been helped by my doctor (who's also a friend) to find a pediatrician for Alice who resembles you (if I may say so) in his carefulness and love for his little patients. The former was not so... dedicated.]
Regarding illegal immigration: Italy is a natural bridge from Africa to rich Europe, so we are having much of the same problems. Every week boats overloaded with desperate people (even hundreds on one small boat, often including pregnant women and little children) defy the Mediterranean Sea to reach our shores.
I also know firsthand their reality, having visited and even worked in several refugee centers. Alas, this problem has not a simple solution...
I hope I have expressed myself clearly (reading a foreign language is much easier than writing...).
Dear Dr. Parker
Your story of the illegal alien child is IMHO pure sentimental hogwash. Those who break our laws do not deserve the benefit of our services at taxpayer expense or otherwise. Save some of your bleeding heart for Americans who deserve it.
I'm glad there are people out there whose bleeding hearts are for people who deserve it regardless of their immigration status. Especially children.
Doc, thanks for bringing to light. And for you that thinks this is sentimental hogwash I am so glad your political party "got a whoopin.'" Your anonymous status shows your true guts.
hi
I'm more interested in the injury of that baby,I myself had a similar experience with my baby which was treated slightly by the hospital -I was told not to worry everything will self correct. Unfortunately they were very wrong. It turned out to be much more severe.
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