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Emergency Room
Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.
-- Florence Nightingale
Friday, May 12, 2000
One year ago: Lava Lamp
Two years ago: Full Series Pass
Three years ago: RTW = Release To Web
I was all set this morning to take a trip down to Jack's parents' place tonight. I figured that Jack would pick me up from work, so I had my bag, and a new daypack with some outdoor gear I recently bought, all ready in my car.
It's been busy at work this week, because all of us (except Pete and me) are going to The Money Show in Las Vegas. They've been working on getting a duplicate server set up, and all the handouts and materials and flat screens packed away. UPS came yesterday to pick it all up. Actually, they came twice! Once way before the scheduled pickup time, so Kellie suggested they go away and come back later. I was amazed that it only took one trip for the driver to carry away a large pile of heavy boxes. His hand truck made it easier, but still!
* * * * * * * *
I was expecting email from Jack around noon, to confirm our plans. Instead he sent me some very worrying mail! His gall bladder problem was flaring up, and he was feeling really bad. "I'm having a hard time typing this," he said. He was waiting for a callback from the doctor, and would let me know what was up. The trip was off, of course!
Well, I wasn't good for accomplishing much after that. I'd have started to drive up right away, but I wanted to hear back from Jack first. I paced around the room, read some weblogs, and worried. I didn't burst into tears, but a few leaked out.
Finally Jack phoned me, around three thirty. He was calling from the emergency room! His doctor's office hadn't called him back (we found out later that they'd called his home number, even though he'd given them the work number -- grr!) so he ended up driving himself to the emergency room. They gave him an IV, and meds for nausea and for pain. I told him I was going to drive up there, and left right then.
I was worried driving up, but was able to remain calm. I only tortured myself imagining bad stuff sometimes, not every moment. What if they'd taken Jack to surgery right then? Would they let me to his room? Traffic was bad enough that the drive took an extra hour. I drove right to the hospital. I asked at the Front Desk: where was Jack Bell? Oh, we don't have anyone admitted under that name. But he was in the emergency room earlier today? Oh, yes, now she could find him. But he'd been released at five o'clock, an hour before.
I figured he'd taken a taxi home, so I set off for his house. That's the other side of town, but Bellingham is small enough that it only takes ten minutes or so to drive. I parked and walked around to the front door. Locked! and dark inside. Could his boss have picked him up, and not driven him home? I needed to check again at the hospital. Now I really was worried!
I drove straight back across town. By now the main desk was closed! So I decided to check in the emergency room myself. (I should have done that on my first trip, of course!) As I crossed the waiting room, I saw Jack coming towards me. "Where were you?" he asked, understandably annoyed. I was so glad to see him! Of course he'd waited there for me, expecting me every moment since he knew I was on my way. I pulled my car up to the emergency room entrance so he wouldn't need to walk so far.
* * * * * * * *
We stopped at the shopping center. Jack went to get his prescription filled, and I went to the grocery store for non-fat foods. That's what the emergency doc had recommended, so as not to make the gall bladder thing worse. Home then, and Jack rested in his recliner -- the most comfortable place for him!
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