Recovery Is A Process

Becoming more aware by the hour, I was able to observe the Cardiac Care Unit process with more attention and interest.  Patients were be rolled in on gurneys, and as I had come to notice, a nurse was assigned to one or two for the first critical 24-hour period.

I shut my eyes and laid my head back on the pillow.  The equipment around me and in me was so numerous there was no way I could move.  I thanked God that I’d made it this far.  Oddly, I thought, the pain wasn’t bad at all – amazing what living better through chemistry can do.

I felt a hand on my arm.  “Mr. Woodford,” LaTrena said, “I’m going off-duty now, but I’ll be back tomorrow.  Jason is going to be your nurse while I’m away,” she added.

I opened my eyes to see a young man in his twenties, strong and tall, standing with her.  “Hi, Daniel,” he said, “I wanted to introduce myself and let you know I’ll take great care of you – is there anything you need?”

“When do the tubes come out?” I asked.

“I can get that for you in just a bit,” he answered, “you’ll be able to shift in the bed a little easier.  Won’t be long until we sit you up.”

“You behave,” LaTrena chimed in, laughing.  She looked at Jason.  “He’s been a great patient – treat him right for me, o.k.?”

“My pleasure,” Jason replied.  LaTrena turned and walked away.  “Give me a few minutes to check on my other patients, and we’ll get those tubes out of you.”

It wasn’t long before John appeared over my head.  “You’re looking better,” I heard, coming out of a light sleep.

“They’re going to remove the tubes,” I said.  “I hope it doesn’t hurt.”  I closed my eyes again.

“You’re on so much stuff, you won’t feel it at all,” John replied.  “How’re you handling the noise?”

“What time is it?” I asked.  “How long have I been here?”

“This is your second day,” John replied.  “I understand you slept well most of the night.  That’s a great thing.”  He reached to adjust my pillows and pulled a blanket up around me as best he could.

“My how time flies when you’re having fun,” I said.  “I’m hungry.”

“They’ll start bringing you liquids, soon,” I heard.  “The bleeding and draining has stopped and you’re much more stable than you were yesterday.”

I heard the privacy curtain pull back.  “Hi,” I heard; it was Jason.  “I’m Jason,” he continued, introducing himself to John.  “He’s doing much better today; in fact, we’re about to pull the drainage tubes out of him.”

“So I hear,” John said.  He looked down at me.  “I’m going back to the waiting room and I’ll see you when they’ve finished,” he said.  “Remember, this is a good thing.”  He turned and disappeared through the curtain.

“O.K. Daniel,” Jason asked, “we’re going to pull the tubes out now.  You may feel a little sting as they come out.”  He laid a large sheet of gauze on my legs.  “I’m going to ask you to take a deep breath when I say ‘NOW,’ let it out slowly.”

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I grasped the steel bed guards in anticipation.

“NOW,” I heard.  I took a big gulp of air and held on.  Jason took one pull and removed both tubes at once.  Oddly enough, I didn’t feel anything but a small sting.

“That was great,” he said, “you all right?”

“Nothing to it,” I answered.  “You’re good.”

“The meds have a lot to do with it,” he chuckled.  “But I’m glad I didn’t hurt you.”  He bundled up all the materials in the gauze and placed them on a table next to the bed.  “I’ll get rid of those shortly,” he added.  “Time to bandage you up.” 

He gently and carefully bandaged the points from which he had removed the tubes.  “These look good,” he said,” speaking more to himself than me.  He looked up.  “You’re a quick healer.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” I managed to chuckle. 

He grabbed the gauze on the table.  “I’ll order you some food, now,” he added.  “You’ll be out of here in no time.” 

“Thanks, Jason,” I replied.  It looked like things were moving along well.