A VERY BUSY HOSPITAL VISIT

Recently I visited a good friend of mine named Wally in the hospital in order to play some music for him. His room was on the fifth floor in the orthopedic unit. He had broken his right ankle a few months ago, and the resulting infection had refused to heal, so he was put on antibiotics. He already had two surgeries and was facing a third.

Soon after I arrived around 10:30 a.m., he was visited by a whole parade of medical personnel starting with a physical therapist who attended to his bad leg. No sooner had I sat down to talk with him and his wife Sally, than a male nurse entered to give him some pain killers. He was followed by a dietician who asked Wally about the food he was eating. Then there was a hospital care coordinator who talked with him and Sally about his discharge plans after leaving the hospital and possible follow-up rehab facilities.

Finally, I was able to take out my autoharp and begin playing a couple of soothing songs. Wally was just about to nod off to sleep when there was another knock on the door. This time, it was two aides who weighed him and transferred him from his bed to a wheelchair so that he could have a much-needed shower. After Wally had been put back in the bed, he was weighed. Another nurse adjusted his IV to administer more antibiotics. By now it was past noon and Wally was hungry. Sally ordered him a burgher from the hospital cafeteria so he could have lunch.

From the time I arrived around 10:30 a.m. to the time I left around 12:30 p.m., there was hardly a moment for Wally to catch his breath, much less time to play the music I had come to play. There were more than half a dozen interruptions. I know they all meant well, but I felt for my friend. It made me realize that you don't go into the hospital to catch up on sleep.