Way to go E!! Is there any special thing that might make infusions easier on her? I'm just thinking of the future...Is she planning on college? If so, getting used to infusions alone might be a good idea - and if she's taking MTX by injection, then to transition to her doing the injection. You could do it in baby steps - in the beginning you could be there for the hard part of the infusion (the IV stick) and then after a while you could leave and sit in the car. Then transition to her doing more of the infusion by herself, you going a bit further away than the car (for example, to a local coffee shop) vs. telling her you will be there in the car the whole time, in case she needs you. Same with blood work, if it's not being done at the infusion.
As for anxiety etc. being extenuating circumstances. Generally, they are. But my kiddo has PTSD from medical trauma as well as anxiety, and while we begged and pleaded, there was absolutely NO way they would make an exception for a hospital stay during this COVID period. She's always had me stay with her in the hospital - and I still do so, though now I often leave her for several hours or more to go home and rest and shower. But I'm always there to advocate for her. This was the first time she had to manage entirely alone, and given her anxiety and PTSD, it was very tough on her and I honestly think the extreme stress of being hospitalized, in terrible pain and feeling like no one would listen made her pain worse. But despite a long history of anxiety and PTSD, there was just no way around the rules in this situation - they were VERY strict about not allowing visitors - not in the ER, on the floor - not anywhere but for hospice patients, minors (1 parent) and premature babies in the NICU.
I should add that my daughter is over 18, so this doesn't necessarily apply to younger kids. But for 18 year olds, it would probably apply. I understand why, of course, but it was still very hard!
