Emergency Department

Thursday night I spent 10 hours in the emergency department of Lowell General Hospital.  Saturday I'd hurt my back, being stupid and taking my historically sturdy and resilient back for granted.  By Wednesday morning standing still was gasp inducing with pain running down through my right knee.  Thursday evening my right leg collapsed dropping me backwards down some stone steps.  I suffered no injury from the tumble, but it did get through my thick head that I needed to get this checked ASAP.

The place was packed when I walked in around 8.  I was in for a long wait.  I got my x-rays quickly.  Good news, the x-rays showed no horrible problems in spine or hip.  Bad news that meant I went to the bottom of the triage list.  Gotta love reading your results in the portal on your phone as soon as they are ready.  I settled into my wheelchair for the long haul.  I'd brought a book.  Wheelchair because my right leg was not reliable for walking.

There were families cradling sick children, a young girl who hurt her ankle playing basketball, many others sitting waiting for help.  Everyone here because something was wrong, someone was sick, something was injured.  The staff was endlessly kind and thorough working through the crowd, hour after hour.  No one is happy in the ER.

Then around 1AM a man appeared pushing a woman in a wheelchair, with a nurse running behind.  The woman was in labor, NOW.  A flurry of activity as they rushed the couple upstairs.  Some time later the man reappeared with bag of supplies.  A nurse asked if the baby had come.  Yes, within 15 minutes of them getting to the delivery room.  A girl, dad smiled.  As he walked back up the aisle someone clapped, then another, then we all joined in. That little family brought joy to all of us.  In all our momentarily sick, worried, or painful lives we paused for joy. You could see the room brighten. 

I did not get out of there till after 6AM.  Drugs and instructions for follow up appointments.  Hopefully just aggravated muscles wreaking havoc with the sciatic nerve.  I'm feeling somewhat optimistic.  I will not take my back for granted again.