Today’s written portion is brought to you by the category ”Janitor MD” where I write about things I see in my daily meanderings through the hospital. As a disclaimer – there is nothing that violates privacy regulations, HIPAA rules or otherwise releases patient or personal information within the following blog post. It is simply observations of what it can be like to work in a hospital from a different perspective. The words, opinions and everything else contained in the following text is my own and does not represent my employer or the hospital where I work.
A haunting cry
When you hear a scream, it shakes you. When you hear a scream in a hospital you are disposed to run towards the commotion. In the year and a half of doing my job in Environmental Services (translated – hospital housekeeping) I have seen it all from one end of the spectrum to the other. I’ve seen nurses running to a code call in a neurological intensive care unit as they scramble to save a life that shouldn’t be ending. I’ve grabbed the wall of the hallway in our labor and delivery unit as a code was called sending every member of the medical staff into a carefully controlled panic as they rushed past me to the room where death was knocking.
I sometimes imagine that I’ve seen too much. From our neonatal intensive care unit to the cardiac unit where death visits far too often to the various other intensive care units that give new meaning to the term, “the waiting game”. It is played out as families’ watch over machines; friends look into blank stares and the never ending moments of pause as another soul departs our hallowed halls to the afterlife.
I have seen people collapse into tears as the word is passed to them that hope no longer visits and the future is far more uncertain now. I’ve walked by and seen bright faces fade into sadness as reality slams the shades of the future down on those that wait and watch.
It is an odd position to be in at times and it lends itself to my own life as I learn how to navigate emotional pitfalls and heartbreak. I take solace in that I will do what I can as limited as I am in my position. I’m not a doctor or a nurse. I’m not clergy or counselor. But perhaps a look or a comforting glance will do the job.
Today was when I most wanted to reach out and hold back the torrent of despair that had fallen. I was standing at an elevator and heard the scream from the staircase behind me. I had never heard a scream as such in my time at the hospital. I carefully and cautiously walked up the floors and found a young woman in tears and rage. I asked her if she was ok. I reached out and touched her shoulder and asked again to ensure there was someone here for her. Through all this I simply wanted to stand with her and help.
Such is not my place. Rules and regulations prevent me from filling some part of that void. After she said she had family here I nodded and told her to take all the time she needed. I walked away.
I kept walking the floor back and forth keeping a side eye on the staircase and waiting for her to return. When she did I passed by her on my way out confident she would be ok. She said two words that gave me some warmth in that dark moment.
“Thank you.” To which I nodded quietly and walked on my way to my required duties.
Such are the experiences in the halls of a hospital.
and now to the results -
1 – Lose it or Die
307 calories burned doing 30 minutes of moderate swimming. WIN!
2 – Get out!
Um…Fail.
3 – Write it like you want it
Still nothing.
4 – Rock out to more
Introduced to what sounds like a great album from Mary J Blige “Stronger” via NPR Music. WIN!
5 – Get Smart-er
I’ve tossed two books from the “Wild Card” series that was edited by George RR Martin. The content was a little too much for my tastes and boundaries. Currently browsing the newly annotated Dracula. WIN!
Total Win/Loss for today – 3/5
Ugh = completion rate.
Grade = Murg.
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fairly acceptable continuation of the adventures with introduction of new characters to further flesh out the story of Darth Vader. Characters are ok. I say ok because some of them are just mind blowingly stupid. The Vader moments were we get to see inside his mind and his early interactions with the Emperor are great and really add something to the legend and story of the Dark Lord of the Sith. A good summer read that won’t change your life and might bring a smile to your face.
