4-1-1-6

That’s TC’s hospital room number.
It’s interesting how something as insignificant as a random number, can quickly become a thread in the fabric of your life.
It’s a number those of us in the caretaking rotation won’t soon forget.
I am here now.

I don’t think I have what it takes to work in a hospital.
I admire every single person, no matter what their official role is, who I have met and in some cases come to know at KU.
These people definitely have what it takes.

Mary is my favorite nurse of TC’s; she’s here today but assigned to other patients.
Bummer.
Today TC has Margo, a new nurse to me…I’ll be watching Margo closely.

Didi is on the board as TC’s aide today…Love Didi!
She is a young compassionate woman who despises the “celebutante” movement going on today.
Didi wishes Britney Spears and the likes would go live in a truly depressed nation or even their own inner city for six months.
She is young and optimistic enough to believe “those girls” can still learn compassion, the joy of giving and instill those lessons in other young people.
Like I said, Didi is young herself, but God bless her optimism!

Dr. “Nice Guy” and his 5 interns should be here soon.
That man is a gem; demonstrating just the right mixture of love and authority.
He’s a “glass half full” kinda guy.

Then there’s Mary; an old, frail woman, very serious in her duties.
She is a Catholic Eucharistic Minister who TC had been receiving Holy Communion from every day.
TC was upset the first time Mary came in after her surgery; being unable to eat, she told Mary she could not receive communion.
The other Mary (my favorite nurse), was in the room at the time and overheard TC’s distress.
Nurse Mary insisted that she, TC and I could split one Eucharist in tiny bits of 3, and all partake in the Holy Sacrament.
(No one seemed to notice that being a “Cyclical Catholic” myself, I was hyper-ventilating over this offer; but lightening didn’t strike…maybe all is right with me and the Lord after all.)

Update: Oh my! Dr “Nice Guy” was just here and I am not feeling the love.
He was 100% “Dr. Authority” today, a side of him I’ve not seen.
He’s got me all verklempt now, I’m a nervous wreck.
(His manner, I should explain, was directed at his interns, not us!)

Joe, a third year intern apparently gave the good doc some erroneous information on TC this morning.
For a moment there I saw Dr. “Nice Guy” turn into the badass Dr. Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy; Joe playing the role of George, the poor little intern.
Ouch!

Today’s lesson learned:
This is not a place for the weak.

And TC fits right in.