When I was very hungry, weak and vulnerable and asked for a bite to eat, you turned me down. You said basically I wasn’t worthy. My child was dying, being rushed to the hospital in early AM, a bunch of tests happened it was noon now and I didn’t eat anything all day and I simply asked “is there any way I can have a bite to eat or even a drink, even some crackers or apple juice” what did you say “you are not the patient”. Ouch! It was hurtful, it showed no compassion.

Never did I feel so rejected as that moment, no family with me, my child less than a month old dying. I can’t leave the hospital room and hospital staff with no warmth shot me down when I said can I even get some crackers like I was asking for opioids of something. The tone or the rejection was downright mean, the lack of compassion was downright mean, it made me feel like they saw me as a criminal and all I asked was for a bite to eat. I rushed to my doctor in the AM, I thought I eat after I get back from seeing her. The doctor informed me my son needs immediate surgery, sent me to the hospital, to rush there. I didn’t eat but that was the least of my concerns getting him there quickly. But now hours of sitting in a room I was crazy hungry and needed a bite.

At the hospital I was there longer than expected, in that time it could be that I didn’t even have a dollar on me rushing to the hospital, they were so worried to get my son into surgery they parked my car, a lot was going on. Or it could have been that I had money but couldn’t even get a second to get to the cafeteria or vending machine because I was needed for my son. I don’t know the exact circumstance why I didn’t buy food. But I do remember the staff when I asked for maybe even a juice or some crackers explaining I am hungry shoot me down and treat me meanly. It hurt my heart, my inner child. It scored my experience and wish it on no one. Don’t be this mean to others.

Where was the compassion for the person who was feeding my son, who just gave birth to my son, who pointing out there is something medically wrong with my son, when others said he is just fine, only to realize no he is not and needed immediate surgery to survive? I got no credit or warmth for putting my son before myself before me eating.  I was hungry and you fed me with pain.