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You know the feeling. You get comfortable in life until something pulls you out of your routine. You’re forced to stop, watch, and listen. This happened last Good Friday when my 22 year-old son Paul ended up in the emergency room.

Thankfully, it wasn’t serious, but the ER couldn’t be avoided. Paul sliced his thumb on broken glass. The wound was deep. In only five minutes of ice and compression, it became obvious he needed professional help. My husband Randy and I wrapped it up as best we could and took him to a nearby walk-in clinic. The doctor there took one look, gave Paul’s thumb a temporary bandage, and sent us to the emergency room.

We rushed to the E.R. and after checking in, sat in the waiting area. By now it was 8:00 p.m. I had the sinking feeling this would take several hours. Randy had a bar gig with his band and had to leave soon. I had planned to have a Netflix marathon, but knew this wasn’t to be.

So I did what I usually do in these situations. I started people watching.

Across the room, an older Hispanic man took deep, wavering breaths, eyes closed. He held his chest and I wondered if he was having a heart attack. A man sat beside him, thin with a well-trimmed mustache. His eyes look worried as he murmured words of comfort to his friend.

At the reception desk, a heavy, middle-aged woman with a long-gray braid told the nurses in a thick accent she was having a panic attack. She didn’t know what to do. She was asked to sit down. Someone would see her shortly.

I couldn’t stop watching the woman, her face wreathed in worry. She stared straight ahead, caught in her own drama as if watching a scary movie. She took short breaths in and out. I wondered why she was alone.

A wiry African-American man tried to soothe his crying young son who had broken his wrist. A nurse asked if he wanted to come with his boy to get his x-ray or wait there. The father jumped up. “I’ll come,” he said without hesitation.

Meanwhile, a pastor came over the intercom, giving Good Friday prayers. And although I’m not a very religious person I listened to his words. I looked around and couldn’t help think how we’re all united in our love and fear. To some extent, we’re all broken. We’re all scared and lonely. We all need help.

Paul’s name was called. Things seemed to be under control and not too serious so I told Randy to get to his gig. We were brought back to the examining room. I swallowed my terror of hospitals and medical procedures.

It seemed a quiet night in the ER, thank God. I can’t imagine the other shifts full of trauma, shootings, and car crash victims. My respect and awe of doctors and nurses is never-ending.

Lillian, a cheerful African American woman came in for paperwork. She was dressed in a black pantsuit with a large painted egg pin on her lapel. She stood at the computer and talked about Easter. “My husband’s cooking turkey and I can’t wait,” she said with bright, happy eyes.

Handsome nurse Richie arrived to give Paul a tetanus shot. He looked like the singer Ricky Martin and as he prepared the injection, told me about his 19 month-old son. “He’s amazing, so fast,” he said, shaking his head. In the wistful way he talked about his child, I could tell he wished he were home.

Physician’s Aide Michelle entered, all curly brown hair and efficiency. “This is going to pinch,” she said to Paul while giving the Novocain shot in his thumb, making the area go numb. I watched my son flinch, but he stayed brave. After, Michelle deftly gave Paul stitches. We were told they would stay in for ten days. Paul couldn’t shower for 24 hours. The wound had to be re-dressed daily. I was thankful for such good medical care.

We drove home and I realized that although this night wasn’t how I expected to spend Good Friday, in a strange way, it wasn’t wasted. I was pulled from my comfort zone to a world I rarely see. I was forced to sit and watch and listen.

I couldn’t help wonder what happened to the woman having the panic attack. Did the man survive who was clutching his chest? What happened to that little boy?

I’ll never know.

But all our lives intersected for one brief moment while we sat in the ER, listening to Easter prayers over the intercom.

 

Have you had something take you out of your comfort zone, making you stop, look and listen? Comments are always welcome. Thank you for reading and sharing.

Comments(46)

    • Chrissy Williams

    • 8 years ago

    There is something so peaceful and heart warming about your weekly blog. I am always comforted by your words. Thank you!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much for reading, Chrissy. It means a lot.

  1. I think it’s wonderful that rather than sit and stress and worry about all the things you had planned which you were missing, you used the time to appreciate the Now, and to learn what you could from it. Something I’m trying to get the hang of.

    I hope your son’s thumb is doing a lot better now.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much, Lizzi. If it was more serious, I doubt I could’ve chilled. But since it was a routine situation, I was able to relax. Thanks for reading.

  2. Thank God for medical professionals and others who dedicate their lives to helping others! Hope your son’s thumb is healing well.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much! Paul’s thumb is fine and I agree about those wonderful medical people. They never fail to amaze me.

  3. I wish we could share these words with everyone: we are all united in our love and fear.

    None of us are all that unique in a really really great way.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much Carla. As I get older, I realize it more and more. We’re all more alike than different.

  4. Sorry your son wound up in the ER, but glad it was a good experience. I was an ER nurse for nearly 15 years – and as difficult as those years sometimes were – I would not give them up for anything. Comfort zone was a distant line in those days. lol. I learned so much about people and from those people so much about myself.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Wow, Laura. I can’t imagine doing that job. I have unending admiration for anyone who can do it. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

  5. So happy your son’s injury was not serious. Who knew an ER could be so heartwarming?? I love your words – “we are all united in love and fear. To some extent, we’re all broken. We’re all scared and lonely. We all need help.” Perhaps these words could help stitch up the hatred and anger in the world. Because as you so beautifully put, our lives really do intersect on so many levels.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much, Ellen. Yes, I believe if we concentrated on helping each other, rather than hurting each other, it would be a better world. Thanks for reading!

    • Dana

    • 8 years ago

    I’m glad your son is ok! It’s great that you turned it into an opportunity to reflect on the positive, when you were taken out of your comfort zone! There’s not much of a comfort zone left for me, with all the trouble those tumors keep causing.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Dana, So sorry about your medical situation. All good wishes go your way. Think positive. Good things are coming.

        • Dana

        • 8 years ago

        Blogs like yours brighten my day! 🙂

          • Laurie Stone

          • 8 years ago

          Thanks so much, Dana. Comments like yours brighten mine!

  6. I love how you used that moment to find connection. I was in the ED this week. Here is a link to my story. http://annarosenblumpalmer.com/mind-blowing-sex-can-anti-climactic/

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Wow, Anna. So glad this had a happy ending. As I wrote on your blog, the only good thing about these awful scares is how good it feels to walk out. I want to kiss the ground. Glad you’re back to sexual puns!

  7. Thanks for sharing your experience and especially your deep feelings. Healthcare of any kind is so important for every American. This is a prime example.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Beth, Thanks for your kind words.

  8. I love people watching! It can help us appreciate life other than our own – helps us to stop for a moment and most likely feel blessed with what we’ve got once we’ve seen the traumas of others.
    Lovely post!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Thank you so much, Claire. I find people-watching (wherever it is) fascinating.

  9. People watching is my most favourite activity! I make up stories to go with what I’m seeing.
    So glad your son was all right!
    Hope those other people were, too . . .

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Thank you, Diane. Hope they’re okay too.

  10. I am glad it all worked out okay!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Thank you, Dorothy!

  11. Yes..I just had an ER visit myself last week after a colonoscopy. I passed out in a restaurant afterwards. Scary stuff. I do have another diagnosis I have to deal with but it’s unsettling. Thank goodness I know where my help is!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Marya, So sorry about your fainting episode. That can be very stressful. Hope everything turns out okay.

  12. Sorry that you and your family (especially Paul of course) had to go through this. Nicely written, thanks!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Douglas, Thanks so much. Happy to say, Paul is fine.

  13. Ouch – I bet that was painful! I can relate to the woman who was having a panic attack, as I feel panicky in hospitals some of the time – although I wouldn’t have owned up to having one. This post reminded me of many years ago my ex husband cut his thumb whilst carving Sunday lunch & I thought it may need a stitch or two. We got to the hospital to discover that he had actually cut through his tendon, had a 5 hour operation to try and restore nerve endings & he was unable to drive for months! I’m glad your son’s tendon was intact. 😊

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Linda, Wow! Your husband went through a lot. So sorry. Glad to say Paul’s situation was easier, but like you, hospitals scare me.

  14. I am a nurse and have spent years working in hospitals, and I don’t like them either. I avoid the ER like the plague! Glad all worked out. Cuts to fingers can be very serious. And yes, we are all broken but the story doesn’t end there. XO

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Molly, I have such respect for nurses and doctors. I truly don’t know how you do it. I’m traumatized spending two hours in a hospital. I don’t know how its done everyday.

  15. This post was beautiful before, but is so much more meaningful in the current crisis! I guess our frontline health care workers are praying for a quiet Good Friday.
    I’ll pray too!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Diane, I can’t admire our health care workers enough. They’re the true heroes of our time.

  16. What Diane said. Imagine Good Friday in an ER in the time of COVID. Praying for peace & health.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Bonnie, I can’t imagine going near a hospital now. Yes, praying for peace and health indeed.

  17. […] of your routine. You’re forced to stop, watch, and listen. This happened last year on Good Friday when her 22 year-old son Paul ended up in the emergency […]

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Thanks, Jennifer!

  18. ER staff is amazing. I’ve been in there many times taking others in but wouldn’t want to have to go there now at least until the pandemic is over. But every time I’ve been in they’ve been so helpful and caring.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Rebecca, Medical people have always been my heroes in life — along with firefighters and teachers. Thank God for them.

  19. I can see why this holiday stuck with you, Jen.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 12 months ago

      Carol, It was definitely unexpected.

  20. Emergency wards are always interesting for people-watching. I’ve mostly had good experiences in them. Glad Paul got taken care of.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 12 months ago

      Thank you, Rebecca!

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