Today my husband, Mr. J, was a patient at the very same hospital. He had surgery. We got to the hospital at 5:30 a.m., he went under the knife at 8:30, was sent to recovery at 9:40, and
I have no idea how I will get him up to the second floor. But just now he's feeling no pain, thanks to medication that really should be dripping into his arm as he lies safe and sound in Ben's hospital.
They let me sit with Mr. J until he was ready for anesthesia. Then I went to a big waiting room where other families of surgical patients were waiting. One by one the other families heard from doctors, either by an old-fashioned phone or in person. Finally, Mr. J's surgeon came in and said Mr. J is all fixed up and will be fox-trotting soon.
But then, while I was waiting even more, I heard the phone ring in the waiting room. The attendant answered it and started calling out a family's name. "Anyone here for Smith? Smith? Smith?" When no one responded, the attendant said into the phone, "I think Smith is a lone wolf."
My heart broke for Smith. A "lone wolf." What a term to use for an unfortunate soul who has no one to help him after a surgery!
Friends, please petition the bored gods to stand beside all the lone wolves out there who face tough ordeals all alone. We are a social species, meant to help each other out. Some of us still fall through the cracks. May the Gods and Goddesses be with them.
5 comments:
Been there done that so many times. now hopefully cured of my Waterworks problem.
This may be true.
They always ask at the doctor's
office why you are there, and you have to
answer in front of others what is wrong and
sometimes it is embarrassing.
There is nothing worse than a Doctor's Receptionist
who insists you tell her what is wrong with you in
a room full of other patients.
I know most of us have experienced this, and I
love the way this old guy handled it.
A 65-year-old man walked into a crowded waiting
room and approached the desk.
The Receptionist said, 'Yes sir, what are you seeing
the Doctor for today?'
'There's something wrong with my dick', he replied.
The receptionist became irritated and said,
'You shouldn't come into a crowded waiting
room and say things like that. '
'Why not, you asked me what was wrong and
I told you,' he said.
The Receptionist replied; 'Now you've caused
some embarrassment in this room full of people.
You should have said there is something wrong
with your ear or something and discussed the
problem further with the Doctor in private.'
The man replied, 'You shouldn't ask people
questions in a roomful of strangers, if the
answer could embarrass anyone. The man
walked out, waited several minutes, and
then re-entered.
The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, 'Yes??'
'There's something wrong with my ear,' he stated.
The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled,
knowing he had taken her advice.. 'And what is
wrong with your ear, Sir?'
'I can't piss out of it,' he replied.
The waiting room erupted in laughter...
How very sad that anyone should have to deal with that alone! And it seems very odd to me. I don't remember ever being in a hospital or outpatient facility where they would discharge someone after surgery if there was no one to pick them up. Where my husband has his procedures done, they won't admit someone unless they provide the name and phone number of whoever will be picking them up, although frequently that person is in the waiting room the whole time.
Hmmm, now that old Beatles song "Eleanor Rigby" is running through my head.
I hope Mr J has a swift and full recovery!
LOL!
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