OK so yesterday I wrote a tid-bit that seemed to set a couple people thinking that something bad had happened.  Such is not the case; more so that I just needed the time to sleep on it and sort it all out so that when I did write it would not be a jumble.

However, since I tend to write more in a style of «stream of consciousness» this still might be a bit of a jumble so hang in there.

Yesterday, I was feeling better and my sister had invited me to go up to her work¹ to have Christmas dinner with her and the rest of her unit.  I thought since my fever was gone and that I was hungry why not. 

Plus I did really want to see where she works.  Will say it is not at all like what I pictured in my head.  Most of the patient rooms have gorgeous views which I am sure really does help with their recovery.  With something pleasant to look at² it makes the stay in the hospital more pleasurable.

Something happened while I was there that really impressed me and renewed my faith in mankind and the spirit of kindness.

A little old lady from the USA was visiting her daughter/family in Calgary for the holiday season. Yesterday, she fell and broke her hip.

Of course this does require surgery. However, she was not traveling with Travelers Health Insurance³ but here is the part that really impressed me.  The Surgeon offered to do the surgery for free.

Not too sure about the others that would be involved or what the hospital's position is however I know that this can not be a common practice⁴ but for this surgeon he knew that there was no other option for this woman other than to have the surgery here in Canada.

I did not get to meet the Surgeon but I did get to see him.  Just as my sister said, he is one of the nicest people she has ever met.  You could just tell by looking at him he was kind, warm and a generous man.  His smile was almost as nice as mine!⁵

So I got to see someone's Santa Claus yesterday. He was not in red and white, but in pale blue scrubs, that were not at all flattering, a pair of those ugly shoe covers that look like shower caps and of course one of those same style caps on his head!

So a big KUDOS to him for caring.

The next issue is more me looking at a policy and pointing out the obvious,⁶ which all too often is overlooked.

The hospital has instituted a «no smoking policy» that prohibits smoking anywhere on hospital property.  That means anyone⁷ is required to walk about 1.5 blocks down a hill to go for a smoke.

Firstly, I want to go on record as saying that even though I am a smoker I understand the reasoning behind this policy.  It is clear as day.

However....

Here is where I am going to point out that this policy is «biting off the nose to spite the face» or simply point out the obvious flaw in this practice.

People who smoke are going to smoke.  Said people are also not aware of all the dangers of smoking⁸ in hospitals or airplanes⁹ and often do foolish things that cause horrible damage.

Yesterday a patient was caught smoking in his room.  Patient was under the blankets¹⁰ having a cigarette, while Patient's O2 mask was hanging over the edge of the bed. 

Just last year there was a fire in one of the patient rooms when a patient, post-op, lit up a cigarette while on O2.  This explosion and fire caused extensive damage and could have taken lives.

Solution? So instead of cornering people to try and «sneak» that smoke and inadvertently or carelessly cause and inflict more damage, why not provide the means for them to have their cigarette «safely» and avoid any further possible room fires or explosions!?

Sure you may argue then that those that have to «service» a smoking room are at risk from second hand smoke. 

For crying out loud - get off the cross someone needs the wood - they are working in a hospital - they are subject to second hand everything! For that matter we all are, it is just more concentrated in a hospital of course.

Another point, if medicinal marijuana is going to be permitted to be smoked in and on hospital grounds.....ok I am pretty sure I don't need to hammer the nail any more on this one.

So that then brings me to the over crowding.  Not really much to say to this other that WTF and thanks Klein!

The unit my sister is working on is so over crowded that there are 3 beds in the lounge/TV area and one of those beds is blocking the fire exit, those 3 beds are required to share a single bathroom which is the only public bathroom on the unit.

So while the province is now debt free due to the cuts in spending, drastic cuts I might add in the 90s, for healthcare and education.  This province now is full of people that are stupid and the hospitals are over crowded and under staffed! 

That is all I am going to say about that!

Now here we go on to the personal stuff....

I found out last night that my mother is engaged. Ok so most would say happy news right?  Well I am not sure how I feel about this - as far as it really involves me.

I have slept on it and I am still not sure where I sit or what my reaction is; however I will be honest and say that I am not jumping up and down with excitement.

Briefly will give you a few of the reasons why I am hesitant about this but honestly not to mean at the expense of my mother's happiness.

1. The man she is engaged to; I have only met and been around for a total of 3 minutes in the entire time they have been seeing/dating. Part of that does have to do with my schedule and part of that does lay on the fact it appears to not be a priority.  In all the years I have lived away from «the city I was born in»¹¹ my mother has NEVER come to visit me.  Granted that would drive me crazy and she would have to stay at a hotel but nonetheless.
2. Her divorce has only been final for a few months. It was an extremely ugly battle for my mother not only to protect what was hers but to also protect what is rightfully my sister's and mine inheritance from the death of our father. My mother's ex-husband signed numerous contractual agreements agreeing that in the event the marriage dissolved he would not in any way, shape or form come after any of the assets that fell under the «inheritance» umbrella.  Well he did and we had to fight tooth and nail.
3. The man she is engaged to is in an extreme amount of debt.  He does make a serious salary however; he just put his son through school to practice in the same field and his son has never lifted a finger to help out.
4. Even though now the son could help out at his father's practice, because the son's official paperwork has not come through yet and he can not fully practice and get paid, he is not going to help out, rather he is going to sit on the couch all day and watch TV. The son has not even once shovelled the snow this winter.
5. Months ago, before the divorce was final, my mother asked about how we could «swing» the system so that his «man» could enjoy the same flight benefits my mother does.  This really annoys me because my career is not a free ticket to fly around the world for just anyone.
6. I see too many warning lights.  Too much «taking advantage of» and maybe even «too much too soon» even though I am not directly involved but there is the potential for me to be again directly involved.

Not really sure where that leaves me.  Guess I still have to mull it over.

Guess that is enough for now...

Cheers, tH/out 

1. her hospital is only about 4 blocks from where she lives↩
2. like a gorgeous view of the Rocky Mountains↩
3. PLEASE PEOPLE DO NOT TRAVEL WITHOUT IT! NO MATTER WHAT↩
4. we all have bills to pay↩
5. KIDDING↩
6. I love to point out the obvious to people↩
7. and I mean anyone and everyone↩
8. not talking about the direct health issues↩
9. will touch on that one on another day↩
10. much like how we used to hide with a flashlight and read at night after «lights out«↩
11. which is coming up to 10 years↩