Preparing for Infusion Day

Part of my daughter's treatment for her autoimmune disease includes infusions at the hospital. She receives monthly infusions of a blood product called IVIG, and every few months she does an infusion of an immune suppression medication called Rituxan.

Infusion day can be long and boring, but we are thankful for treatments that seem to be helping. We've been doing this process for over a year now, so we seem to have a good system in place.

1. To make an infusion go smoothly, it is best to prepare the day before. The most important thing is hydration. Get that water bottle out! Her infusions are given by IV, and a well hydrated body makes it much easier to get an IV in place.

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2. Pack a bag to keep your kiddo busy. Sitting during the infusion can be really boring. My daughter's infusion sometimes take 6 or more hours. Sometimes she falls asleep, but not always. We bring a bag with homework (super fun), games, crafts and a comfy blanket.

3. You are going to need to eat during that long day. Bring snacks from home or money for the hospital cafeteria. My daughter loves getting lunch from one of the restaurants in the hospital. It's a treat that makes the day more bearable. Either my husband or I go pick up the lunch and bring it back to the room for her.

4. Even though spending the day sitting in the infusion center is not ideal, I always try to remember to be thankful for that time with my daughter. A day spent together is always a good time to take a deep breath, relax and appreciate each other's company. One day, she'll be a moody teen who may not want my company anymore!

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