One-stop Shopping

Need a hammer, two pillows, a toaster, and a gallon of milk?

Target.

Beautiful. It's like one-stop shopping. Some people would go to four stores to get those things.

That's how I'm starting to feel about the ER. Need a blood sample, urine sample, x-ray, ultrasound, and intravenous medicines?

I did. Monday Morning.

Emergency room.

Beautiful. It's like one-stop shopping. Some people would go all over the hospital to get those things.

Plus the hours are great. You don't have to schedule an appointment in advance. And, similar to the gym, if you go at certain hours (like 3am) there is a lot of availability and not a lot of distractions. It only costs me $35 too. (which is $35 more than my regular doctor co-pay.) However, if you consider the convenience and benefits I think $35 is a bargain.

I landed in Sacramento Sunday night at 6:30pm. At the Dallas airport I enjoyed a meaty burger with fries from TGIF. Also, I had a small snack on the plane. By the time I was home I wasn't that hungry. About 8:30pm I decided instead of having an actual dinner I would just fry up a couple eggs before bed. Two fried eggs with salt and pepper. That's it. That's all I ate. Within 30 minutes I had bad stomach pains. I managed to fall asleep before ten, but when I woke up at 12:30 the pains were still there. Sharp. Constant. I called the advice nurse and described the situation. She asked if I had anyone that could drive me to the emergency room. Not really. It's 12:30. Then she said she wanted to talk a doctor and get back to me. After consulting one of the docs in ER she came back and said because I wasn't throwing-up, or having diarrhea, or other symptoms I didn't need to come in. Just take some Tums and Tylenol.

I wish I was throwing up or having diarrhea. Then I at least would know my body was doing something about it. Instead, I was just in pain. Sharp. Constant.

Tylenol and Tums. I dug through the medicine cabinet, but found neither. Drove to Safeway. At 1am. As I'm buying only two things: Tyenol and Tums, the cashier scans my items and politely asks, "How are you doing tonight?" Several possible responses enter my mind.

"Could be better," was my response.

That was the truth. For some reason I didn't think those drugs would help. I didn't feel upset to my stomach. This was different. I had packed a backpack for the ER even before the trip to Safeway. Finally, around 3am I caved and drove the emergency room.

I got my own room this time. Room 11. The doctor asked me some questions. One of them involved ulcers. That sounded like a good lead. I asked him if that was what he was thinking. He said he was thinking about 28 different things. He didn't elaborate on the other 27.

Later I was rolled to x-rays. This was a new ER treatment for me. I felt pretty special being pushed through the hall. At least until I heard them talking about me.
"Take room 11 to x-rays."
Then upon arrival, "Room 11. Here for x-rays."
The x-ray lady said, "You Kevin?"
"Yes, but room 11 is fine. That's what they're calling me now."

They pushed me back to my room. Nobody ever mentioned the results of my stomach x-rays. Later the doctor came back with an ultrasound machine. He rolled it on my stomach. He even let me see the picture.

I have gallstones. Lots of them.

He made an appointment for me to see the surgeon, and gave me some drugs to take until then. Told me to eat a low-fat diet. Stay away from things like milk, foods that are high in fat, and fried eggs.

I asked him for a drug to help me sleep. He said he would get me something. I was thinking for right now, but he thought I meant to take home. I'm very thankful for the misunderstanding.

After some commotion it was agreed I wouldn't drive home (I believe it was just after 5am) until I took a nap. I slept until about the time half of Sacramento showed up (around 8am). A few of the loudest residents were assigned to room 12.

When I woke at 8am I unhooked several things from my body. Two on my chest, one on my stomach, and one on my finger. Once free from the chords I walked down the hall to use the bathroom. Came back to room 11 and got dressed and ready to go.

I asked the nurse some dietary questions, and she came back with a paper saying stuff I should and should not eat. She checked my vitals and said I could go. I asked where to pay and she directed me to lady at the desk in the middle.

I paid. $35.

Thought of the Week

If you’re flammable and have legs, you’re never blocking a fire exit.
- Mitch Hedberg

Shopping Cart

Tire

Oblivious

I find it hard to believe that this is real.

Hug at C11

I land in the massive Dallas airport. I have over two hours before my next flight so I scan the monitors. Another flight leaves for St. Louis in forty minutes. Gate C11. It is nowhere near my gate, but I have time. Just as I'm contemplating my options I see a call from my sister, who I thought was already in St. Louis.

"Vickie! Why are you calling me? Don't you think I'm on a plane or something?"
"Aren't you in Dallas?"
"Yeah. Just landed. How did you know that?"
"Paco told me."
"Where are you?"
"Dallas too."
"Oh, are you at gate C11?"
"YES! Can you see me?!!?!!!?"

It turned out my sister is flying standby. She already has missed one flight, and just learned she won't likely be getting on the flight leaving from gate C11. Grandpa's funeral is tomorrow, and the viewing is today from noon to nine. We've already missed some of it, but I should still get there sometime just after six. My sister, on the other hand, has no idea when she will get there. I can't see her, but I begin to head for gate C11. I'm still on the shuttle heading across the airport. My phone rings. It is Vickie again, wondering where I am. I'll be right there. Finally, I arrive. I see her from a few hundred feet away. I can see it on her face. A face that just says, "I'm really glad you're here. I need someone with me right now." I walk toward her. She walks toward me. Then I wrap my arms around her and hold her. It is one of the greatest hugs of my life. A time where I didn't need words to convey what I was saying:

You're not alone now. I'm here with you. And it is going to be okay.

I buy us some lunch. For some reason the $3.50 price tag on the small appetizing plastic box of green apples, dried cranberries, and blue cheese seems reasonable. I get that along with a soup and a salad. The apples with cranberries are delicious. I watch my sister's temperament change from anxious to relaxed. We still do not know if she's going to make it on my flight or have to wait for another one, but for a second that doesn't matter. What matters is I am here. She calls our brother Scott back. He was doing his best to take care of her despite already being in St. Louis. She fills him in on the details, and then passes the phone to me.

I say to Scott, "I got her."

He doesn't even need to respond. That is all he wanted to know. I can tell he would have been there himself if possible.

The next day I spoke at Grandpa's funeral. I shared about our hug at gate C11. Maybe sometimes it takes death to realize what's important in life. Too often we are too concerned with the insignificant. Thursday, I had the opportunity to be there when my sister needed me. I'm so glad I was, because I didn't want her to have to go through it alone.

Thought of the Week

Real men only cry when they care.
--Kevin Burrill

Fail Blog of the Week

If you want them to eat your kids on Saturday I don't
know what they'll charge.