Dear Diary,

Today was one of those days where I felt like I was already in med school. My family kept me busy with one emergency after another. Let me tell you what happened:

Morning Drama: The Infected Cut

Ali, my youngest brother, got a small cut on his hand this morning while climbing the garden fence. I cleaned it quickly and told him to stay out of the sandpit, but of course, he didn’t listen. By the evening, his hand was swollen, red, and throbbing with pain.

I cleaned the wound properly this time with antiseptic, squeezed out the pus (gross, I know), and covered it with gauze. I told Mom and Dad that if it doesn’t look better by tomorrow or if he gets a fever, we’ll need to see a doctor. Lesson learned: Even small cuts need proper care, especially when sand is involved.

Lunch Fever: Aylin’s Cold Turns Serious

Aylin, my 4-year-old sister, wasn’t her usual bubbly self during lunch. Her forehead felt warm, and she kept saying she was cold. By the afternoon, her fever was over 39°C, and she looked so tired.

I soaked a cloth in cool water and put it on her forehead to help her cool down. I made sure she drank water and soup to stay hydrated and let her rest in our shaded room. I checked her temperature throughout the day. If it gets worse or doesn’t improve by tomorrow, I’ll make sure we take her to the doctor. I’m starting to see how delicate little kids are when they get sick.

Snack Time Chaos: Kerem’s Peanut Allergy

Kerem, my 12-year-old brother, gave me a real scare this afternoon. He ate a handful of peanuts, not realizing he’s allergic (he usually avoids them, but I guess he wasn’t paying attention). Within minutes, his face turned red, his lips started swelling, and he was gasping for air.

I yelled for Dad to call emergency services right away. I made Kerem sit upright to help his breathing and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. We learned today that we need to keep an EpiPen at home for situations like this. I’ve never felt so helpless, but staying calm helped.

Evening Trouble: Granny’s Heatstroke

Granny had been out in the garden all afternoon, even though it was blazing hot. By the time she came inside, she was dizzy, confused, and her skin was hot and dry. She collapsed into a chair, and I knew it was heatstroke.

I moved her to the coolest room in the house, took off her cardigan, and used a fan and damp cloth to bring her temperature down. I gave her small sips of water and stayed by her side. Thankfully, she started feeling better after a while, but I told her to avoid gardening in the heat from now on.

Late Night Worry: Dehydration Alert

Before heading to bed, I noticed little Elif crying without tears. Her lips were dry, and when I checked, she hadn’t gone to the bathroom all day. It hit me: she was dehydrated. 

I gave her small sips of water and ORS (thankfully, we had some at home). I also checked her skin by pinching the back of her hand. Thankfully, it didn’t stay pinched for long. I’ll keep an eye on her tonight, but I think she’ll be fine.

It was a crazy day, but I’m proud I could help. From Ali’s infected cut to Kerem’s scary allergy attack, I learned a lot about staying calm and acting quickly. Each situation reminded me why I want to be a doctor. Being prepared can save lives, even in a busy house like ours.

Goodnight, Diary.

Your Angel

• Have you ever ignored a small cut or scrape? What happened afterward?
• How do you usually clean and care for wounds? Would you do anything differently now?
• How do you usually handle a fever when someone in your family is sick?
• What would you do if the fever didn’t go down after a day?
• Have you ever seen someone have an allergic reaction? How did you respond?
• Do you know if anyone in your family or friends has a severe allergy? How can you prepare to help them?
• Have you or someone you know ever worked or played outside in very hot weather? How did you stay cool?
• If someone in your family started feeling dizzy or faint from the heat, what’s the first thing you would do?
• Have you ever felt very thirsty or dizzy from not drinking enough water? How did you feel?
• How can you make sure everyone in your family stays hydrated, especially during hot weather?