Was it Something I Said???

There is the thought that many things often happen for a reason.  In reflecting on my weekend stay at St. Joe's Spa [hospital!], it occurred to me that I had a small part in someone else's script, unbeknownst to both of us.
My little unplanned jaunt began when my surgery incision needed some antibiotic intravenous 'boost' and I was sent directly from the doctor's office to admissions. My room assignment was on the 4th floor which was an orthopedic wing, and a pleasant surprise was that it had been reopened less than a year ago after impressive renovations. No one in the other bed,  I was tucked into the bed by the door, located the flat screen TV in perfect position, and was handed the ''Room Service" menu.  You got to choose from a varied assortment from breakfast [available at any time], lunch, dinner, salads, side orders, drinks, desserts, etc. Between the hours of 6:45 AM and 6:45 PM an order could be placed by phoning 4-FOOD and selecting your choices.  It arrived within 45 minutes, and was pretty darned good...for hospital food.  Wow!! Innovative for sure!
The rest of the experience was IVs, vitals and/or blood work at 4AM. {Really??}
On the second night, the other bed area was prepared for a woman who would be returning from surgery. When I woke up Sunday morning { I slept?}, there she was ...resting ...as I made my way to the shared bathroom.  This is where our two lives did a little 'chapter' together.
After I was back in bed, a little voice eked out,
"My stomach hurts."
I immediately pushed my nurse's button, and directed the nurse to my roommate whose stomach hurt.
The nurse explained to her that after surgery, it is very common to have trapped air that causes pain, and that was most likely the cause. [I knew this to be true, when 24 hours after delivering my son via C section, I got horrendous pains and buzzed the nurse's station saying,
"I thought I already had this baby...what the heck is happening?"
The answer was trapped air post- surgery, and when expelled, it's all  better. ['gas'tly but true].
Ten minutes passed, and the little voice from beyond the privacy curtain whispers..."I have to go to the bathroom."
So, I press my buzzer and again direct the assistance to my neighbor.  They gave her a bedpan and some time to concentrate.
Then I hear a whisper [kind of like my mom's] as if talking to herself..." I need more oxygen."
Whoa. Jeez... I buzzed the nurse and pointed 'over there' and related the 'needing more oxygen.'  I imagine that there are a certain number of buzzes when suddenly you are not seen as urgent but I didn't care.  On the next trip in to see the post op patient, she was mumbling as if her speech was affected in some way.  She thought her tongue was swollen.  Well, the pace and teamwork certainly began to accelerate at this point.  People flew in, doctors, machinery, an ultrasound 'whooshing' gizmo.
"This is not good."  They couldn't get a loud enough pulse or oxygen level or whatever.  There were now about 15 people over there as I quietly shrink into obscurity wide-eyed and wondering.
They decide to call for 'rapid response' followed by the decision that ICU would be a better place to more closely monitor this patient. They reach for her oxygen tank to travel and see that there is no holder for it.  They spy one behind my bed, and as a man reaches over my headboard to shed the tank to get to the wrought iron holder, he glances at me...to which I smile and whisper,
"Just pretend like I'm not even here."
Furniture moved, feet shuffled, directions were given, and the woman's bed rolled out with all the entourage as well.  It had lasted probably minutes and was fascinating to watch.  It was like being on the set of ER or Grey's Anatomy.  Pretty far out.
And then I was alone again. Thinking.  It reminded me of the book, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven."  I was one of hers. I think we'll meet again [in the future!!].  What if I wasn't there to push the nurse's buzzer?  What if I hadn't gotten involved?  Isn't life strange with the way we interact with each other when we least expect to and how it may change many things unknowingly?
Later in the day, someone came back to tell me that all was well and her family was there in ICU with the 'lil lady.
So, was that the reason I was in the hospital that weekend? 
I dialed up Room Service thinking that a small glass of wine would've been nice to unwind from 'my spectator trip to the ER... while on the 4th floor... in a place that I had never been to before.  I settted for cheesecake and coffee.
And a little bit of quiet time. 
Later the next evening,  I watched Dave, the nurse, who had been on all three 3-11 shifts run from patient to patient.  I even heard one in the next room tell him that she wanted to hit him!  He popped his head in my doorway and said,
"You are definitely my favorite patient tonight!!"

God bless all of the people who dedicate their energies to help others in need. It's quite an important job, and I think the folks in health care are more often taken for granted...or not appreciated enough.  So, share some compliments and a smile or two along the path of life.  Supply some mirth and merriment.  Be a positive force.

Me??  I found it exhausting even from the perspective of the 'mouse in hiding'..just watching!!"