When I was in graduate school, I lived with a good friend who was beginning her MD studies. I was amazed at the sheer dedication she and her classmates displayed in regards to their studies; however, like all overworked med students, they needed breaks and a chance to recharge. One of the stress reliefs for this group? On Thursday nights, they would gather at some one's apartment and watch
ER (of course, some still studied during commercial breaks - dedication to the finest). As the school year progressed and their knowledge of anatomy and medical terminology increased, they became skilled in finding the writers' oversights. The DMS IV? Still cannot believe that one made it to air.....
I admit, I have not watched the show since that time. I tend to have a short attention span for television of any sort of quality and always feel a little annoyed when a show I can relate to "jumps the tracks" because of ratings. From what I hear,
ER is still on the air (though facing its series finale in May).
On Saturday evening, our child had her first emergency room visit. I had blogged earlier that she has all of her limbs attached. She still does, but she also has three new stitches to accessorize the previously mentioned arms and legs.
The child's father was making tortilla soup for visiting grandparents. I had just returned home from the gym (a whole different blog post for another day), and my brother was pulling up the Cramer/Jon Stewart clips from Comedy Central for our viewing pleasure. The kiddo wanted to help her dad cook, and she pushed a chair into the kitchen so the added height would allow her to be a sous chef. Apparently, feet with socks are slippery when standing on chairs, and the next thing heard was "crash" followed by screams/shrieks.
After a call to the pediatrician's after hours nurse, we were directed to the emergency room housed in the hospital closest to our neighborhood. From what I remember, television's portrayal helped prepare me for the moment. Waiting room wait? Check. Easy on the eyes physician? Check. Frazzled patient? Check. Drama between the parents? Not so much - we tend to like each other most of the time.
After an initial exam by a RN and a more in depth exam by the doc on call, her teeth and gums were pronounced fine. The tongue was bruised but still worked (as the repeated "I want to go home NOW!" proved). However, the impact caused a split chin , and sutures were ordered. After application of a local anesthetic, she was given an oral dose of Versed. As she became the most relaxed she has ever been in her almost four years on this earth, the procedure commenced.
A papoose board was used. It was ordered as the child would not keep still - more due to her being upset that she could not move her hands and see what was going on rather than pain or discomfort. The doc sewed her up while an awesome nurse sang "Spongebob Squarepants." Her parents were right there and held her hand until we were released to go home.
Mema and Grandpa were waiting for her with chocolate, a puppy card which makes noises whenever it opens, and a "Get Well" Spongebob balloon. The next day, Grandma and Grandpa came into town and took her out to eat for chips and queso. As of today, she seems to feel pretty good (and by good, I mean "good" enough to elicit several "GET DOWN! Do you want to go to the hospital again?" directives from her parents and grandparents).
Thus, we're on the mend around here. However, when it comes to emergency room stories, I'll leave them to skilled actors and/or trained professionals.
