Friday, Mar. 11, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | The Titanium Man
We have the technology. We can rebuild him. We can make him better than he was before - faster, stronger. Okay, maybe not all of that, but at least maybe they can stop his pain. These were my thoughts as I watched my best friend wait in agony for the nurse to come back with another shot of pain medication. Seems three weeks ago, my overly tall friend Mitch forgot to duck and hit his head on a low beam as he hurried down the steps after Flash. Flash was the foot-long, green and black iguana owned by Mitchs ten-year-old son Jonathan. He has a bad habit of getting out of his cage and running wildly around the house in the middle of the night. Flash the iguana, not Jonathan the ten year-old. Being his best friend, I felt it was my duty to be at the hospital to help him and his wife through the ordeal of repairing his broken body. To hold her hand as the nurses prepped him for surgery. To reassure them both that everything would turn out all right. That, and I couldnt pass up the golden opportunity to pick on my friend in his hour of need. Its the least that I could do. The surgery was scheduled for 3:45, so they arrived at the hospital by 1:00. His wife was nervous as she parked the car and helped him out. Neither had had much sleep since he went crashing down the steps and landed in a crumpled heap at the bottom. Mitch wasnt nervous about the procedure; after three weeks of pain he just wanted to get it over with. When I got to the hospital at 2:00, he was back in pre-op complaining about being hungry. Seems the doctor had told him not to eat or drink anything since 8 p.m. the night before. Upon hearing this, I did what any best friend would do. I told him I was sorry that I was late; I had just finished a big lunch. At 4:00 we were introduced to Terry, a nurse called The Circulator. The Circulator is responsible for walking around the operating room and counting the number of sponges and instruments. I guess thats so nothing is left inside any of the patients. She informed us that the operation wouldnt be until 6:00. Mitch asked her if she could get him some food. She just smiled, said no, and circulated out of the room. I, the good friend that I am, went to the vending machine, bought a five pack of chocolate-covered donuts, came back and ate them in front of him. The holding nurse came in at 5:30 to tell us that she would be the one in the recovery room to help, well, in his recovery. I guess shes called the holding nurse cause shes the one who will hold his hand as he comes out of the anesthesia. The anesthesiologist came in at 6:00, gave Mitch another shot and wheeled him to the operating room after one last kiss from his doting and concerned wife. I yelled down the hallway that if he didnt make it, I got all of his tools. He just smiled and waved. I took that as a yes. I think the drugs were finally taking effect. Best Friend Mitch came out of the surgery at 8:30 that night. Thanks to a very skillful doctor, one titanium plate and four titanium screws, for the first time in three weeks my best friend was pain-free. The Circulator came in at 9:00 and finally gave him something to eat. The doc said that hell be just fine after a couple of weeks of rehab. Thats more than I can say for Flash the green and black iguana. Seems Mitch wasnt the only one to wind up at the bottom of steps all crumpled up. As soon as Mitch is able, he and Jonathan will be taking a road trip to the local pet store for a replacement green and black iguana called Flash 2.
|
|
Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |