Thursday, July 10, 2014

Thurday Thirteen

My husband has been in the hospital since Saturday. He got his arm and hand caught in a hay baler. He did not lose his limbs. His arm was badly smashed and he had severe lacerations. It took two surgeries within three days to get him to a better place of healing. Time will tell us how much use of his arm he may have lost. But the main thing is he is alive. It could have been much, much worse.

So here are 13 quick observations:

1. Farm machinery is dangerous.

2. It only takes a split second for inattention to turn into tragedy.

3. Ambulances are bumpy rides.

4. ERs are so full that people are treated in the hallways.

5. The waiting rooms at ERs are filled with people who look like they would be better served at an urgent care facility or doctor's office.

6. The hospital cafeteria does not serve up very many healthy items, and they super size.

7. Hospital food still tastes as bad as it always has.

8. Some nurses are better than others, just as some people are better than others. You treasure the good ones.

9. The whole system needs a revamp. There should be an urgent care right beside the ER so the less urgent folks can be shuffled there, and the real emergencies dealt with. I think I said something similar already but I'm stressed, so forgive the repetition.

10. The whole hospital feels like one big disease.

11. Late Saturday night surgeries, when you and your brother are the only ones in the waiting room, are pretty damn scary.

12. It is better not to send flowers to the hospital. It is just one more thing for the caregiver to have to keep track of. Wait until the patient is home, then send all the flowers you want.

13. Many people offer to help and sincerely want to, and that is a great treasure.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 352nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

6 comments:

  1. Insta-care (that's what they call current care out here) is in major need of a re-vamp. Like you said, there should be one right next to the ER. Not just so the lighter cases can be shuffled over, but because there's a sense of confidence from being in the hospital itself in case it turns out that your problem is more serious than you thought. There should be more insta-care facilities over all. I've waited up to six hour in one while feeling like death warmed over. The doctors in the one specified by my insurance have some bad attitude going. And I think I should be able to get in to see my doctor with less than two weeks notice.

    Looks like you hit one of my hot buttons this week.

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  2. My heart goes out to you all. Your #9 suggestion is well worth repeating over and over, if you did say it before.

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  3. Horrifying, how the Universe can change in an instant. Sounds strange, under the circumstances, to say "Count your blessings," but...

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  4. Oh no! I'm sorry to hear of this accident, but glad your husband is on the mend. Keeping you both in my thoughts...
    My T13: Recently Read

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  5. I'm so sorry to hear this about your husband! Praying for a speedy and full recovery.

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  6. what a scare anita...so happy it wasn't worse...sending you hugs...were you at rmh? ash was probably there when you came in.

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