Medical Check

Original Entry posted February 1, 2010

Today we had to go through a complete medical check in order to get Madelyn's Visa. This was a very long process not designed to be enjoyable for anyone. Our adoption agency arranged for us to be the first adoption group at the Medical Clinic. The clinic is not just for adoptive families but serves the Chinese Community as well. Our first stop was getting the TB skin test read by the nurse. After a quick visual examination and measurement, her result was positive. This meant she had to undergo a chest x-ray in order to rule out Tuberculosis. Normally the skin test will rule this disease out but not in this case. This caused me a bit of anxiety because, as some of you know, the presence of Tuberculosis means an extended stay in China - either 45 days for treatment or another week getting an exception approval to enter the country. Next we had 3 medical stations to visit, ENT, General Medical and Height and Weight. This was a bit chaotic because we were herded into one large room with 3 rooms attached and you just picked a room to begin with and moved from room to room as you finished with each exam. No order, no calling of patients names - just get in line. After we finished off we went to get 4 shots. She received 2 shots, one in each leg and 2 shots in each arm. She was not happy - she cried and cried - until Keith gave her a sucker and she calmed down a bit. Only to be stirred up again when it was time to get the Chest X-ray. The radiologist (not the rad tech - the radiologist) took us into the room and made be hold her hands in the correct position for the x-ray. This invoked a large scream and many tears. This, for me, was the hardest part. Immediately after finishing the x-ray - the same radiologist read the x-ray. (Instantaneous results - that's what I'm talking about!) We were all clear!!!!!!! What a relief and a weight off my shoulders! There were several other children in our group that had false positive skin tests as well and were cleared through the chest x-ray. Yeah! The whole process took about 3 1/2 hours. The more time went by the busier the clinic became with both adoptive families and the locals. The clinic is so not what you expect it to be. There is no privacy - all of the exam rooms are glass rooms for everyone to see. Dr's admitting patients, doing paperwork and the exams. Unreal! Needless to say this was not a very good day for Madelyn - she was completing out of sorts for the remainder of the afternoon. She took a quick nap and I had to wake her up to attend the Red Couch picture. The Red Couch picture is the picture (on the red couch) with all of the adopted babies in our group dressed in traditional chinese outfits. She cried and cried. Not really a good picture moment. Tonight was better for her. We did a little shopping. I ordered a baptism dress from one of the local seamstress' here in town. It should be ready Tuesday night. The fabric I chose was a white silk fabric with a chinese symbol meaning strong family. It will be beautiful and a wonderful keepsake for her. Tomorrow we are booked to go to the zoo. She will love seeing all of the animals. We are on the downhill run - 4 more days until we are homeward bound!