Thursday, January 14, 2010

Sit-Com moment of the Day

Christian was hanging out with me in the afternoon; he was going to favor me by taking my car in for an oil change, but there were no open appointments. He had brought me coffee anyway, and I was dozing in and and out of sleep due to the amount of meds they were feeding me at that point, So I am sure my company wasn't that great.
The whole day I was just "working at breathing" so I was very tired, and Chris got to see the irony of so many people coming in to see every fifteen minutes and asking me the same questions over and over, only to leave by saying "you should get some rest". X-ray, blood, vitals, repeat.
They inform me that they are going to take me into ICU. Maybe. If they can find a bed. If they can't, they perform the keg-tapping right here in the room in which I lay.
"We'll know in ten minutes", is the word we get at 1:50. So it's no surprise that they come in and say they will do the procedure in-room at 2:15. Then again, no surprise, when at 2:30 we are told they've got a room, and we'll be going, like, now.
The RN loads up my bed with a traveler Oxygen tank, my IV, and drop the side rails so we can navigate through the narrow doorways to ICU. Christian and the NSA on duty start packing up the room of accumulated items gather in a short week and realize that we may need a bellman's cart. Not wanting to need a map as well, Chris asks the RN if he can come along to see where the steamer trunks will be forwarded to. No Problem! Chris then hops on bed-moving duty and we carefully navigate our way through the twisty hallways. Only to find that Chris will not be allowed in ICU right away, and he gets left at the "front gate" and I am wheeled through, down to the room waiting for me.
The room is there, there are two nurses waiting to accept me, and three residents. They line up my "old bed" with my "new bed", raise it to a matching level, and more docs pile into the room, getting into their game faces. I am asked if I can slide over onto the new bed by someone and proceed to do so, then someone begins lowing the of head my bed down, and I ask "I am laying down for this? That's not gonna happen". "oh, yeah, oh yeah", while continuing to force me into what I see as certain death. (they tried making me lay down earlier in the day and the pulse-ox dropped from 93 to 76 IN THE PROCESS of laying down). "Up, Up, Up", I yell and finally get compliance.
Sliding over, I get a minor cramp in my left leg, and holler out "OOh, cramp, cramp", which brings a nurse running toward me from the doorway. She almost makes it to me, when she stubs her toe on and kicks over my oxygen tank. "Does this belong here?", she asks to the room and is largely ignored by the roomful of Drs. I would have answered her, but I was busy writhing on the bed with my leg cramp and a sealed oxygen mask that used to be connected to that tank she was carrying out the door.
I get the mask off of my face and start gasping at the thin air in the room, only to have the nurse return and notice my dance, red face and manic behavior.
She gives me my Oxygen and I get to suck that invisible gas like the first beer after work on hot summer day.

The whole scene plays in my head now like a missing clip from "Faulty Towers"

9 comments:

  1. Sounds like a circus act going on. :) We all miss you here at work and wish you a speedy recovery. I'm glad you & Leslie started this blog to keep us all informed of what is going on and how you are doing...Lori is good at passing on information, but sometimes it's better when you get it first hand. If you or Leslie need anything let me know. Hope to see you soon after I get rid of this cold I've been fighting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a collection of assholes. And unfortunately that's the worst I can say so as not to tempt the anger of of Hypocrates.
    Breath Deep, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Barbara & Pat KerriganJanuary 15, 2010 at 12:58 PM

    Mark & Leslie, Laughter is the jam on the toast of life. It adds Flavor, Keeps it from becoming too dry, and makes it easier to swallow ! So Mark keep Leslie Laughing, And Leslie Make sure you keep Mark Laughing ! I love you guys so very much! Mom & Dad

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think it was Erica, Leslie's friend, who recently said: "It's a well known fact that cancer hates laughter".....

    Love,
    V- :0)

    ReplyDelete
  5. HAHA! Sure does Vanda!! It was actually my good friend Becky Miller that said that; so so SOOO true.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara & Patrick Kerrigan ( MOM & DAD}January 15, 2010 at 7:31 PM

    Hi Just want you to know That I am thinking about you ! Don't forget to make each other Laugh, Cause that helps so much! Hope you have a restful night tonight! I love you both very much! Still Praying for you! Love, Mom & Dad

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's true. Cancer hates laughter. I took it to a comedy club once and it left in disgust. I'd do it again once Mark's up for it. Kisses,
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey Mark,
    Glad to be able to see you today! Miss your presence at work, it's not the same without you! I know you'll feel better as soon as the meds start. Sending lots of prayers and hugs your way daily!!!

    Kristy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barb and Pat KerriganJanuary 17, 2010 at 12:02 PM

    Thinking of you today Mark & Leslie, Hope today is a better day for the two of you ! Love, Mom & Dad

    ReplyDelete