On the Move

On John's third day in the hospital, his doctor determined that although his neck was not re-injured and his back and pelvic injuries would heal on their own in time, his broken arm would require plates and a pin to support it. The orthopedic surgeon who was to perform the operation is a resident at a hospital across town, so an ambulance was summoned to transport my broken father to White Memorial Medical Center in East LA.

Shortly thereafter, two very hot - and sensitive - EMS guys showed up with a gurney. I cowered behind the privacy curtain whimpering, while they carefully lifted John from his bed and he yelled out in pain. Trudy, meanwhile, busily prepared for the move by stuffing her purse with any and all hospital supplies she could get her hands on.

“Do you want any gauze?”

“No. Why would I want gauze?”

“In case. Are you sure? I'll take extra. You might change your mind later....How about latex gloves?”