In my lifetime, I have visited the Hospital on various occasions. Happy visits like the birth of my daughter and grandsons. There were also visits that resulted from an accident of some kind and health issues for me, family, and friends. I have been very lucky that I have not had many visits for myself due to accidents.
I remember my wife fell off the boat and hit the dock with her leg. A couple of broken ribs and a from a fall of a horse. My daughter in Junior High School was bucked off Gus, her horse, and was stepped on. We went to the ER as I was an overprotective Dad. In the ER, the Nurse checking us in was also an equestrian. She was happy to share that she had a metal plate in her skull from being kicked by a horse and a metal pin in her leg from a fracture falling off her horse. I think she intended sharing as a way of making me feel better. It served to heighten my concerns.
When I was younger, my brother Larry was replacing a transmission in his car. The transmission fell and squashed his finger. He walked into the house with his finger squirting blood with each heartbeat. He pointed it at me and made a finger gun shooting blood at me as he laughed. Off to the ER we went. He was fixed up good as new with stitches. I also recall while playing sandlot baseball, I slid into a home plate, which happened to be a rusty old bike chain that caused many abrasions and lots of bleeding; off the ER, we went to get it cleaned up and to get a tetanus shot.
ER visits may change as you get older. Some people get dizzy and lightheaded, have chest pain, or heart attacks, or weaken from the flu or virus of the month. People taking medications often have a drug interaction that sends them to the Hospital. Often people may go to the Hospital to have tests done. Endoscopy, Stress, various scans of different parts of your body, whole body scans, or even the ever-popular Colonoscopy!
Discussions change with family and friends; instead of discussing the newest movie, the hottest band, or the best place to eat, the conversation always ends up discussing health problems. I told my friend the other day that he must have replaced his “Little Black Book” of girlfriend names and numbers to his “Little Black Book” with names and numbers of Doctors’ offices. He laughed and agreed.
I salute all the healthcare professionals and caregivers; thank you for all you do fixing us up and keeping us healthier! We can do more as a society to eat better, exercise, and not rely on a pill to fix us up!
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 07/7/2023 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
