AI
Friday, December 20, 2002 9:55:52 AM
Viv's Corner........
I have a really bad back...and an extreme sensitivity to all anti-inflammatory drugs. As a result, I take epidural steroidal injections three times a year. In this way, the ruptured disks in my back get some needed therapy, and I get a brief respite from the intense pain.
These injections are done like a day surgery. I'm stripped to the socks and given one of those lovely (and I can never figure out how to correctly tie the dang things) stylish hospital gowns to wear. Then I am hooked up to an I.V., and left with blankets, straight from a warmer, to curl up with on a gurney and wait my turn in the O.R. The entire procedure takes approximately 20 minutes, but the prep time is at least an hour.
Once the nurses are done with me, and this pair has worked together a long time - one is English, the other American, and they are just hilarious together - I can lie back and doze if I want, while I wait. This time, though, was different.
There was a man, lying next to me, separated only by one of those curtains that hangs on a track from the ceiling, here for his first injection. He was sleeping...and snoring...as the nurses were getting me prepped.
The anesthesiologist walked in, as the nurse duo moved to the darling elderly lady on my other side, and woke the man next to me to explain it was his turn and to go over the procedure with him. The doctor questioned the man about his cough. It was deep and rattling in his chest. The man explained he was recovering from a bout of pneumonia. The doc asked him if he smoked. The man said he did. The doc asked him if he'd tried to quit, to which the man mumbled a non-answer. I took it to mean he really hadn't. The doc then proceeded to take a listen to the man's lungs, and found a rather nasty-looking scar over the man's heart. Upon inquiring as to its origin, the man explained that he was a construction worker who had accidentally electrocuted himself a few years ago. He further explained that he'd been 'dead' for several minutes, before he was resuscitated by paramedics. Upon hearing this, the doc asked the man if he'd seen the 'light' we hear about. The man mumbled a little, obviously a bit uncomfortable with the question, so the doc changed subjects.
As the doctor began wheeling him out of the room, I heard the man softly say, "I did see the light....." and then they were gone, around the corner and into the O.R.
When that same anesthesiologist came to get me, some thirty minutes later, I scolded him for leaving with the man just as things were getting interesting. He grinned and said, "Now you'll never know what he said, will you?" I smiled and remained silent (I find this tactic very effective at getting people to talk), and sure enough he continued, "Well, he did say he saw the "Big Guy", and he said he saw the light - far away and down a corridor. He wanted to go, but the Big Guy told him He wasn't finished with him yet." "Awesome," I replied. I was again reminded of God's presence, and felt the warmth of His love surround me.
He is truly everywhere.
"Never anger a dragon, for thou art crunchy and go well with brie."
-Viv
I have a really bad back...and an extreme sensitivity to all anti-inflammatory drugs. As a result, I take epidural steroidal injections three times a year. In this way, the ruptured disks in my back get some needed therapy, and I get a brief respite from the intense pain.
These injections are done like a day surgery. I'm stripped to the socks and given one of those lovely (and I can never figure out how to correctly tie the dang things) stylish hospital gowns to wear. Then I am hooked up to an I.V., and left with blankets, straight from a warmer, to curl up with on a gurney and wait my turn in the O.R. The entire procedure takes approximately 20 minutes, but the prep time is at least an hour.
Once the nurses are done with me, and this pair has worked together a long time - one is English, the other American, and they are just hilarious together - I can lie back and doze if I want, while I wait. This time, though, was different.
There was a man, lying next to me, separated only by one of those curtains that hangs on a track from the ceiling, here for his first injection. He was sleeping...and snoring...as the nurses were getting me prepped.
The anesthesiologist walked in, as the nurse duo moved to the darling elderly lady on my other side, and woke the man next to me to explain it was his turn and to go over the procedure with him. The doctor questioned the man about his cough. It was deep and rattling in his chest. The man explained he was recovering from a bout of pneumonia. The doc asked him if he smoked. The man said he did. The doc asked him if he'd tried to quit, to which the man mumbled a non-answer. I took it to mean he really hadn't. The doc then proceeded to take a listen to the man's lungs, and found a rather nasty-looking scar over the man's heart. Upon inquiring as to its origin, the man explained that he was a construction worker who had accidentally electrocuted himself a few years ago. He further explained that he'd been 'dead' for several minutes, before he was resuscitated by paramedics. Upon hearing this, the doc asked the man if he'd seen the 'light' we hear about. The man mumbled a little, obviously a bit uncomfortable with the question, so the doc changed subjects.
As the doctor began wheeling him out of the room, I heard the man softly say, "I did see the light....." and then they were gone, around the corner and into the O.R.
When that same anesthesiologist came to get me, some thirty minutes later, I scolded him for leaving with the man just as things were getting interesting. He grinned and said, "Now you'll never know what he said, will you?" I smiled and remained silent (I find this tactic very effective at getting people to talk), and sure enough he continued, "Well, he did say he saw the "Big Guy", and he said he saw the light - far away and down a corridor. He wanted to go, but the Big Guy told him He wasn't finished with him yet." "Awesome," I replied. I was again reminded of God's presence, and felt the warmth of His love surround me.
He is truly everywhere.
"Never anger a dragon, for thou art crunchy and go well with brie."
-Viv
"Never anger a dragon, for thou art crunchy and go well with brie."
Viv
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
