The Baynhams

I never get personal phone calls at work. My kids know I work as a nurse. They know I can't walk off a ward leaving patients unattended. Today I got a call from their school. For the first few seconds a rush of thoughts went through my head, which one was sick? Who had fallen over? It ended up that the school had to close as the water supply to the school had been unexpectedly shut down and there were no toilet facilities. My pulse returned to normal as I arranged to collect them and bring them back with me to the ward. It wasn't ideal but it was only for a couple of hours and everyone made a fuss of them, giving them paper and pens and chatting to them.

While they sat in the corner and played and ate their lunch I heard about another member of staff who had also received a phone call in work that morning. He had got the call I never want to get. His three young kids aged between 5 and 8 had been holding hands crossing the road to school when they were knocked down by a young driver. All three went to hospital by ambulance and the call was to tell him to follow. What must have gone through his head as he left his job in our small hospital to race to the bigger one in town knowing all three of his little kids were hurt. It makes me sick to the stomach. The news that has come back to the hospital is that his kids have bruising and cuts but as far as we know nothing more critical.

I looked down the corridor at my kids up to mischief laughing and drawing and I thanked God that my phone call was not his. I know that his children will be in my thoughts and prayers as I tuck mine up tight in bed tonight.