This week has been an odd one. I was suddenly called upon to assist my daughter in driving her back and forth from her University, which is about an hour and a half from our home.
Over the weekend, Julie twisted her ankle while trying to manage 'high heels.
By Sunday evening it was so swollen and throbbing in pain that she had all of us worried. I convinced her to go to the doctor. Being Sunday, and her receiving her medical attention from the Veterans Administration, we headed to the Veterans Hospital ER.
We spent a few hours in neglect, waiting patiently in the waiting room, and when Julie saw the Doctor, it was confirmed that she had indeed twisted it pretty bad... X-rays taken, and appointments made to come back in the morning for crutches...
Medications in hand, we wearily headed back home.
Since she had pulled some ligaments in her ankle, and was completely unable to put weight on it, or drive her clutch truck, I could see some thing was going to have to be planned for her transportation to school and ROTC for the week.
I supposed it would be me doing the driving and helping her to get around, everyone else had a full time job, and who would help Julie?
I was thankful, once again for making the decision last year to be out here in Fayetteville, to be helpful (as needed) to see my daughter through to Graduation from the University and earn her rank as Officer of the United States Military.
I hadn't imagined all the little day by day, often mundane things that go into making such a commitment as I have made.... but, I can see now, that often just being available is a great gift in itself.
So, off to school we went. The first day was the absolute hardest. I could hardly keep my eyes open driving in the morning, and in carrying her school books in the back pack, my shoulder felt like it would drop off my body any moment. I didn't realize until then, that I wasnt as young as I used to be.... what an eye opener.
I waited patiently in the background while she was in class, and read my book.
That first day drug on, but, I reminded myself, I was being very helpful.
As the day neared its end, and we headed out for the long drive home, Julie couldnt stop talking about the pain in her ankle. Sure enough, it had swelled to twice its size from the night before. We both agreed we needed to go to the hospital, as something didnt seem right. Julie directed me to the Veterans Hospital, as that is where the military treats her while she is in ROTC.
I have been to the ER many times in my life. I dont prefer ER's, but sometimes one has no other choice. However, nothing had prepared me for this ER.
It was for the Veterans, and let me say, I guess the goverment doesnt care much about them, at least by what I saw and experienced there.
We showed up at 3:30 in the afternoon. Julie was triaged, and sent back to the waiting room...........to wait and wait and wait, as her ankle continued to swell and she was turning a little blue. Being the good patient, she didnt complain, but after 6 hours had passed, we were begining to wonder how long our patience would hold out.
Around 10:00 pm, I found myself dozing off in my chair, whilst sitting up. That is a pretty embarrassing thing, as you catch yourself just before you fall off the chair. When your chin hits your chest, and you are suddenly jolted awake, you realized you had just dozed off. Quickly you look around to see who else noticed this. Usually no one is looking, cause they are dozing too.
Well, Julie and I both were fighting this sleeping syndrome. And, when I finally could not take it any longer, I went up to the counter and waited for a receptionist to show up. I asked as nicely as I could: "What in the world is taking sooooooooooo long?" I suppose I wont forget the smirk on that guys face for awhile. He just shrugged his shoulders, and kinda rolled his eyes, and mumbled something or other. I wasnt sure what to make of this, so I pressed in further.
I asked him who is in charge here? Of the Veterans Affairs? He then told me to walk down the hall a bit, look at the large picture hanging on the wall, and said to complain to that guy.... I didnt bother to walk down the hall, as I was pretty sure who he was referring to. Yep, you guessed it, The President of the United States.
I now rolled my eyes, and shrugged my shoulders. "Great", I thought. No sense complaining to him.......... geeze. So, back to the waiting room I went, to sit out the hours and hours like all the rest. Apparently they had been here before, and knew what to expect. They had long ago resigned themselves to this type of ill treatment. I was too new to it all, and still had some expectations that any normal citizen would have.
Finally, by 11:00pm, we were called to the back. Julie got to speak to some Doctor from Cameroon, Africa that didnt listen to her very well. He just took one look at the ankle, and decided to give her a steroid shot, and well, that was about it.
So much for going to the ER at the Veterans Hospital.
Julie wasnt back there long, when she was wheelchaired back to the waiting room, a very concerned nurse in tow. The nurse explained to me that Julie was reacting to the medications and was now swelling up in both legs... The attention was now almost too much from this nurse. Julie and I were both totallly exhausted from the day at school, all the long driving, and the horrendously long wait at the ER, and now they were concerned? Its enough to make a person become jaded and cynical.
We thanked her, and let her wheel chair Julie out the door, (the most attention we got the entire night). She was loaded in the truck, and we made for home.
We had to get up early the next day, and be back on the road in just a few hours.
So, my new 'job has left me entirely sleep deprived and exhausted, but feeling good that I am doing something so important for another person.
Its kinda wierd, just being an 'available person... wierdest job title I have ever had in this lifetime, but one of the most rewarding!
I now think everyone needs an 'available person' in their lives. It makes life so much easier that way~
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