yuh meh oo.

We spent Monday night at the hospital. Yuh Meh Oo’s step-mother/caregiver came over with Mong Ey, the Karen speaker, about 7pm. Apparently she had swallowed a fish bone (or chicken bone, it was debated) on Sunday morning; it had gotten lodged in her throat and she hadn’t eaten since then. We visited the emergency room, had an X-ray taken, and spoke with the ENT specialist.

In the end, he thought it wasn’t a bone, but she had a chest cold, ear infection, and sore throat.

And to be honest, we still don’t know. But without many other options, she is taking the amoxycillin prescribed and we are hoping it will help with her ear infection, cough, and even perhaps a cut from the bone or pain from a sore throat. Anything, really.

The real challenge now is that she is still refusing to eat, which led us to an hour this evening spent giving her the works: pureed pumpkin soup, strawberry smoothie, hot chocolate, and cold water, all offered in a variety of fun coffee mugs with straws. She also got to sit in the kitchen coloring with a doll to hug while she sipped. Her little brother came along, too, which just made for chaos, some high-riding shorts, and slobbery gummy bears in abundance.

Unfortunately, there was very little sipping. We tried so many different things and gave the leftover soup and some milk to her mom to keep trying.

At least she’s taking the medicine. And we told them that if she isn’t eating by tomorrow afternoon, we’ll take her back to the hospital for fluids through an IV. She’s already been malnourished for months, and was one of the kids we were bringing food to regularly earlier this year. I’m scared for her.