Children’s Hospital made me walk around with my sick child, I’m furious 🤬

I’m honestly so upset right now and just need to vent. My 4-year-old son has been very sick with a high fever (over 104°F), vomiting, and breathing fast overnight. I was exhausted and scared after monitoring him all night, so this morning I took him to the children’s hospital in Chapel Hill to get him checked. I went to the main entrance, closed.

Then I walked with my sick child to the women’s entrance, also closed. I knocked on the window because they could see me, holding my child and trying to signal that I needed help. A woman finally came and told me I was supposed to go to the surgical entrance, but she would “let me in this time.” Then when I got inside and tried to go to the children’s section, the front desk there was closed too and I was told I had to check in somewhere else. At that point I was fucking mad , overwhelmed, carrying a sick child, and honestly furious. I left and went to another urgent care.

I understand hospitals have procedures, but when you show up with a clearly sick child and no clear access points or guidance, it’s extremely frustrating and stressful. Parents in emergencies shouldn’t have to walk around a closed building trying to find help.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Is this normal at major hospitals?