The clinic waiting room was quiet except for the cries of my six-year-old son, Marcus. He is autistic, and a sudden fire drill had disrupted his routine. The loud noise and confusion overwhelmed him, and he sat on the tile floor, unable to calm himself.
I’m a pediatric nurse with more than two decades of experience. I’ve handled emergencies, comforted frightened families, and stayed steady in stressful situations. But in that moment, none of my training helped. My usual tools — soft reminders to breathe, familiar comfort items, gentle reassurance — weren’t working. I could feel the attention of others in the room, and with it, a wave of worry and self-doubt.
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