Hello Reader

Yesterday we celebrated my daughter's first birthday. Some of you know that it was a very special day.

Born with a complex heart defect, she fell ill in November of last year and due to her condition ended up staying for a 5-month hospitalization.

Within this time frame, she was intubated, she had a first surgery to stop her lungs from bleeding, she caught multiple infections, and she had open heart surgery.

It's safe to say that she wouldn't have had a birthday if it wasn't for the doctors, the nurses, the respiratory therapists, the specialized equipment and the level of skills involved in caring for cardiac patients with tiny hearts.

I am so grateful for it, and the fact that she is alive.

To celebrate her first birthday, and out of this outpouring gratitude, I hosted a kids clothes swap for a fundraiser yesterday.

I am pleased to say that we raised $1730 in total to support Stollery children's hospital.

​

After recovering from the virus that got her in the hospital, and after healing from the surgeries, it took her a very long time to get strong enough to come home.

The doctors call that "deconditioning".

People who have to stay bed-ridden in the hospital for any length of time, lose a tremendous amount of physical strength.
The longer the stay, the more deconditioning.

In the case of my daughter, it added length to her hospital stay.

​

Deconditionning: being hospitalized threatens our life and independent living

Among adults who experience deconditionning, 30% don't recover the ability to fully function (source).

Having to be hospitalized is a serious threat to independent living. And for living in general:

• A study found that after 6 months, 24% of people were still unable to walk a quarter of a mile, and 45% were still unable to drive (source).
• 10-15% of people discharged have to be re-admitted (source)
• Depending on the condition people were admitted for, there is an increase risk of death between 10 and 30% in the year following hospitalization

One one hand, being in the hospital will save our lives from an acute condition.

On the other, it will increases our risk of death and accelerate our decline, as shown on this figure from a meta-analysis including studies of people over 60.

​

What can we do to limit deconditioning?

There is no way to predict a hospital stay.

But there are ways to reduce the risk of hospitalization and equip ourselves for a better outcome if it were to happen:

• When diagnosed with a chronic condition, claim everything that's under our control to manage it, to reduce the risk of hospitalization.
• Build muscle mass to create a reserve in case of hospitalization.
• Learn to manage stress to go in with all the skills to cope.
• When in the hospital, use an eye mask and noise cancelling headphones to reduce the stress from bright lights and constant noises
• When in the hospital, have engaging activities (reading, mind games, learning) to preserve cognitive skills.
• When in the hospital, seek social interactions, ask for family and friends to visit, to avoid loneliness.
• When in the hospital, have family and friends bring whole food meals, nutrient-dense and protein-rich foods, to support healing and slow down muscle loss. Have protein-rich snacks, bone broth, and make sure to tell well-intentioned visitors that you'd rather have homemade meals than fast-food.
• When in the hospital, move as much as possible: get out of bed, go for a walk. This can be incredibly challenging in some situations, but it is so critical to mobilize our body, even if the walk is slow and we can't go far.
  Immobilization is the top risk factor for worse outcomes.

Having a health coach, like me, in your team of professionals can be a game-changer for someone heading into surgery or knowing they have to stay in the hospital.

My husband has had multiple surgeries, and every time, we had a game plan in place to go through the operation and recovery.
​I have shared this plan before so you too can use it if you have an upcoming surgery.​

I can't stress enough how being prepared can accelerate healing and recovery.

My daughter has spent 6 months in the hospital and I have done everything I could to maximize her chances of success: expressing my breastmilk so she doesn't rely on hospital food, advocating for a quieter room, advocating for a window with natural sunlight, advocating for less interruptions in her sleep,...
Every little thing matters.

​

Age is a risk factor for hospital stay.

We cannot predict if and when we might have to be in the hospital.

But we can prepare for it and be involved in the process.

Vitamin D levels, Iron reserve, muscle mass, and protein-rich foods have all been shown to shorten hospital stay, and will undoubtedly increase your chances of a better recovery.

It's all about preparation and the mindset of taking control.

Talk soon,

Jihane.