HOSPITAL HELP

Enough accolades cannot be found to express the wonderful care and encouragement given to patients by the nurses and other aids here at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Their pleasant morning greetings seem to set the day for hope and healing as the wheels of their carts roll with them carrying the instruments that record the patient’s vital signs and the doctor’s orders for the day.

A CT scan tells the story of a lonely gall stone that was left in the gall duct some years ago when the gall bladder was removed. An ambulance speeds the patient to the Kelowna General Hospital where a special instrument is available and the doctor who is a specialist in that area takes charge of the situation. A small dipper with a light at the end is squeezed through the esophagus to find and scoop out the errant stone. At this point a wonderful breeze of oxygen keeps my heart beating. As I slip into oblivion I recall the struggle to get my breath a decade ago after the first operation, and I wonder if I will ever come out of the anesthetic this time. It all went very well.

Yes, it’s me causing all this trouble for so many. Thankfully, men and women have studied hard to get the education needed to carry out these miracles. I ponder what preventive measures I could have taken to avoid all the trouble I have caused. Politician, priest or peasants are all treated alike in our health system. Back in the 30s depression not one of our eight farm children had to go to a doctor for help. It was 65 miles to get to a clinic in Medicine Hat. There was no fast food on the farm except when we raced out to our vegetable garden for groceries and to the barn for eggs and other protein supplies like milk. Exercise on these forays added to our health as well. Pods came on pea vines instead of part of the fast phones like we have now. The only sweets was the cake Mother had ready for Sunday dinner after walking a mile home from church held at our small country school house during the summer months when a minister came for his practicum. Paying our income tax is almost a pleasure considering the great health system now available for over half a century. My tax cheque is in the mail.