Chapter 1371: The Child’s Mother Is Indeed Ill

Chapter 1371: Chapter 1371: The Child’s Mother Is Indeed Ill

"These are the results of the chest X-ray and EEG. Do we still need someone from neurology to take a look?"

Chen Hongyang pulled up the chest X-ray on the computer and handed the completed EEG to Liu Banxia.

"Sigh... this is exactly what we were afraid of. All negative results. Should we go and talk to the child’s mother again?" Liu Banxia asked after checking.

"We need to think of a strategy. Anyway, I’m inclined to believe that the child’s mother has issues with her mental health," Chen Hongyang said.

"I was actually considering whether to contact the child’s father. I’m really uncertain about the current situation, afraid of harming the child in the future, and also worried about misdiagnosing the mother, which would equally harm the child."

"I was chatting with Liu Yiqing just now about this. Mainly it’s the EEG. Even with subclinical epilepsy, sometimes it doesn’t show up," Liu Banxia said.

"So I think, since the child’s auscultation and chest X-ray are fine, we can completely remove the oxygen. Then we can observe the mother’s reaction, what do you think?"

"Alright, let’s go with that," Chen Hongyang nodded.

Seeing them head towards pediatrics again, Liu Yiqing pondered for a moment and followed.

"Dr. Chen, Director Liu, are Junjun’s test results out yet?" the child’s mother asked anxiously as they entered.

"The results are out. The blood test and chest X-ray results are very good, and the EEG is also fine," Chen Hongyang said.

"This means our current treatment is quite effective, so after discussing with Director Liu, we can remove the oxygen now that breathing is not an issue."

"Dr. Chen, are you sure? Will it make Junjun uncomfortable? We didn’t even do inhalation therapy this time; the inhalation works well," the child’s mother said worriedly.

"We are doctors, so if Junjun feels any discomfort, we can resume the oxygen," Chen Hongyang said.

After hesitating a bit, the child’s mother nodded.

Chen Hongyang decisively removed the child’s oxygen mask.

While Chen Hongyang was doing this, Liu Banxia was intensely observing the mother’s facial expressions. Currently, his ’patient’ was this child’s mother.

"Junjun, how are you feeling?" the mother asked nervously.

"Mom, I’m fine. Can I have ice cream?" Junjun asked pitifully.

"You can have some, but just a little bit. You had me so worried, but you’ve made it through again," the mother said as she pulled the child into her arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Mom, let’s go home," the little one said.

Even though they frequent hospitals, children often have a "hostile" view of them.

"Junjun, be good. We’ll go home in a bit," the mother said, then turned to look at Chen Hongyang.

"Let’s wait a bit longer anyway. The child’s bronchial issues are still there, and we plan to observe some more. What do you think?" Chen Hongyang asked.

"Okay, as long as Junjun is comfortable and can be treated, it’s fine," the mother said.

Chen Hongyang smiled and nodded, then led Liu Banxia and Liu Yiqing out.

"What do you think?"

Outside, Chen Hongyang asked.

"What do you think?" Liu Banxia turned to Liu Yiqing.

"I... I think it’s very normal. She seems like a normal mom who cares about her child," Liu Yiqing hesitated slightly and said.

"I’ve never interacted with a Munchausen syndrome by proxy patient, but I thought they wouldn’t want the child’s illness to fully recover, right?"

"But this mother was very nervous at first, and then genuinely happy when she saw the child breathe smoothly after removing the oxygen mask."

"Unless she’s acting? But if she’s acting, she must be quite an actress, conjuring tears on cue. Yet, she gives me the impression of being a bit over-excitable."

"Honestly, I can’t figure it out. I’m not clear on what exactly constitutes Munchausen syndrome by proxy, only understanding it through descriptions of symptoms. I can’t determine the exact mental state involved."

Chen Hongyang nodded approvingly, "No wonder you were brought up by Director Liu, you observe very carefully. This is a major point of contention right now; otherwise, he would’ve intervened directly just now."

"Sigh... you’re making me sound like I’m really impressive, but honestly, I’m just as confused as you," Liu Banxia said helplessly.

"I agree with Liu Yiqing on one point, which is that this mother shows quite a stark contrast. Her concern for the child is genuine, but frequent visits to the hospital with the child is also a reality."

"Unless her condition has progressed to a very severe stage, where her delusions have become her reality. In that case, it would be more dangerous. What do you think we should do?"

"If I knew what to do, I wouldn’t have asked you for help. My personal suggestion: why don’t you have a chat with the child’s mother?" Chen Hongyang said.

"Your attention to detail surpasses mine greatly, and I feel I’ve already developed a certain bias, making it difficult to make an accurate judgment."

"Why didn’t you think of me when you were eating chicken legs or gnawing on pig trotters? Why think of me now?" Liu Banxia muttered.

Liu Yiqing wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, fearing she’d get herself into trouble.

"I’ll give it a try, but it’s just a try. You can’t pin all your hopes on me," Liu Banxia said.

After speaking, Liu Banxia turned to Liu Yiqing, "You take the child to play and help distract the child’s mother’s attention."

"Oh, fine. Actually, I’m interested to see how many people can be identified, and how many cities have been affected," Liu Yiqing said.

"What do you mean?" Chen Hongyang was a bit puzzled.

"She had a quarrel with a patient today, got the patient to settle down, and then the patient confessed their private history over the years. The coverage area is quite large, involving many people," Liu Banxia jokingly explained.

Liu Yiqing felt helpless, the narrative made her seem so fierce.

This time Chen Hongyang didn’t tag along, leaving it to Liu Banxia and Liu Yiqing. When they entered, they saw the child’s mother playing with the child.

"Let the child play with our doctor for a while, increase the activity level, and also conduct some tests," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

"Director Liu, will it be dangerous?" the child’s mother asked worriedly.

"No, we’re doctors, this is just an observation process," Liu Banxia replied.

The child’s mother nodded, but didn’t entirely relax, her eyes following the child.

"Is the child premature?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Yes, we were so scared at the time. Such a small baby, placed in the incubator," the child’s mother said.

Seemed like she was recalling that time, her expression became tense.

"I just had a baby too, my wife stays at home every day taking care of them. They’re twins, and they can be quite a handful every day, one person can hardly manage," Liu Banxia continued.

"Twins, huh? That’s really a blessing. My spouse loves kids too, every day after work he comes home and plays with the child before having dinner," the child’s mother said.

"Sigh... otherwise we’d have two kids too. The first child miscarried at five months, I was devastated at the time."

"Luckily the next year we had Junjun, we became much more attentive. Just didn’t expect my health was weak, Junjun was born premature and in danger."

"I blame myself, if I had a healthy body, now he’d have a big sister to care for him and play with him. If I had been more attentive back then... well..."

As she spoke, the child’s mother sighed and couldn’t continue.

For every mother, losing a child is a very saddening event.

"We have to look forward, Junjun might have some small issues now, but as he grows, his physical condition will improve significantly. How’s his diet lately?" Liu Banxia asked.

"I’ve always been very attentive with vitamins, fish, meat, and sea cucumber, I’ve bought all of them for Junjun," the child’s mother answered.

"They’re all said to boost immunity, Junjun was born weak, just like me. My husband had friends buy sea cucumbers for us, they’re farmed but fresh and good quality ones."

"Sigh... raising kids now is really not easy. Especially Junjun stayed in the incubator for so many days, you all must have been very anxious too," Liu Banxia sighed.

"Indeed, we were so anxious back then. Couldn’t eat or sleep well, because Junjun stayed in the incubator for too long, we had to feed him formula, I never breastfed him," as the child’s mother spoke, she started to wipe her tears.

Liu Banxia had a vague feeling that the child’s mother’s mental state might be related to the earlier miscarriage and Junjun’s premature birth.

Under normal circumstances, if not stimulated, symptoms of Munchausen syndrome by proxy are unlikely.

"Don’t worry, Junjun’s health will gradually improve," Liu Banxia comforted her.

"Our whole family revolves around Junjun now. He should go to preschool actually, but I’m afraid with his body, preschool might be too much for him," the child’s mother said.

"He kicks off the blanket while sleeping, sometimes I have to keep an eye on him and cover him if he kicks it off. He’s innately weak, and catches colds easily."

Liu Banxia slightly frowned, "That sounds tough, do you have to check every night?"

"It’s not about being tough, it’s just a habit, I’ve cared for him this way since he was little. He’s weak, this is my own child, I’m his mother, if I don’t pay attention, then what kind of mother am I," the child’s mother said with a smile.

"Have you been caring for him this way ever since leaving the hospital? It’s really not easy. You play with the child for a bit, call us if there’s any issue," Liu Banxia said.

Already had an assessment in mind, this child’s mother indeed has a condition, and it’s not mild.