“When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad.”
Where have I been for the last two days? At Cape Cod Hospital. Why? That’s the story so here I go.
On Thursday morning I started my usual routine. I let the dogs out: yup, I was the one who let the dogs out. When they came back inside, I gave each of them a biscuit. One biscuit fell on the floor then the two dogs went at it. I tried to stop them, a stupid idea. I got badly bitten on my right hand. Blood spewed, but I continued to try and stop them anyway. Finally, I broke them apart and got Nala in the bathroom. I grabbed a towel and covered my hand, my bleeding hand. I left Henry in the house and drove to the hospital. The ER doctor had my hand x-rayed. My pointer finger was fractured. The bottom of the finger was shredded a bit. The ER doctor called the hand surgeon who said he’d be there in the morning. I was admitted. My finger was gauzed, an anti-bacterial drip and a pain killer were started, I put on a lovely Johnny, a flowered one, got into bed and met all the nurses.
I called my family and friends. I had the worst night. I couldn’t sleep, going to the bathroom was a trek and nothing good was on TV.
In the morning, I waited for the surgery. I waited until nearly two, then was wheeled to the surgery rooms where I met the surgeon, the anesthesiologist and several nurses, two of whom were former students. We got a few chuckles about that one and talked about their office visits. An oxygen mask was put on me, and that was the last thing I remembered until I woke up with a gauze covered right hand. We all chatted then I was wheeled to my room where I was given something to dull the pain. I called my friend who was coming to get me. She brought clean clothes and waited. The nurse gave me the discharge sheets, got my prescriptions filled and sent me on my way. I had to be driven home or they wouldn’t have let me go.
I got home where the dogs were thrilled to see me. My friend had cleaned the blood, and she and one other friend took care of the cat and dogs. After my friend left, I settled in as did the dogs.
What’s left? I have to get my car at the hospital and go to the dump. The car is filled with trash as the dump was my actual destination Thursday. I was waylaid!
The staff at CCH is beyond amazing!!
PS I had to type this with one finger!
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
September 24, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Egads! What else can be said.
I’d say something like “Heal quickly” or other such but this far out of warranty repairs aren’t guaranteed. I speak from experience. All in all though it could have been much worse were a veterinarian bill involved. My last one looked like the tender for a kidney transplant. “I just wanted her nails trimmed! Not new feet!” I exclaimed when I saw it.
Oh well.
But please do fare well, you were missed and there were worried brows besides mine; I’m sure.
And your old students attended you!
Small town right there…
September 24, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Beto,
I’m chuckling here about the out of warranty repairs. That happened a long time back. You’re right about the vet bill. At least my insurance will save me.
Both of my dogs need their yearly shots, nails cut and physicals. I’m thinking of mortgaging my house.
I promise to heal quickly. Yes, there were other worried brows for which I was quite glad, knowing you had my back!
It is a small town without question. I meet former students everywhere!
September 24, 2022 at 4:22 pm
I was concerned about your brief unexpected absence and I’m glad to hear that you’re back and out of the hospital. Hope you’re feeling much better soon.
September 24, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Thanks, Mark. Even typing with the other hand hurts, and I tend to get grumpy when my hand hurts. I see the surgeon again on the first of October. I hope by then I’m well on the way to healing.
September 24, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Hi Kat,
Many famous novels were written on typewriters by authors who could only type with two fingers. You’re doing just fine with only half as many typing fingers. 🙂
Although the calendar says fall the temperature today will top out around 99°. The sky hasn’t shown us a cloud all week long. No rain and just a humid south breeze. Tomorrow night begins the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It always is hot for the Jewish high holidays. 🙁 It’s 5783. My wife always bought my kids a birthday cake, when they were young, to celebrate the birthday of the world.
You should know better than to ever get between two dogs and food, regardless how much you have trained them. Beneath all their domesticated human looks and behavior, they are still animals at heart and competing for food is a basic animal instinct. Unfortunately, they think that we are just another member of their pack and will treat us just like any other dog, competition for food. Unfortunately, you got your hand too close to their mouths and teeth.
I assume that you are right handed which probably makes things even more difficult especially living by yourself. A friend asks his buddy, “With which hand do you wipe your rear end when you’re on the toilet?” The buddy replies, “I use my right hand”. The friend replies, “Really, I use toilet paper”. 🙂 Good luck for the next few days and get well soon.
September 24, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Thanks, Bob!
I figure I can give even Hemingway a typewriter run for his money!! I do hate all the typos. I have to type a lot twice.
The last couple of nights have been chilly, almost cold. If some places in the state hadn’t had wind, they would have had frost. This is too soon for frost.
We had rain Thursday night. I heard it on the hospital roof. I think it is wonderful that your wife bought birthday cakes. Kids get symbols when they become real and wonderfully understand the meanings behind them.
I was trying to break then apart and had grabbed one so the other one grabbed me. I saw was it happen and knew how badly my finger had gotten it, but I couldn’t stop. Finally I wrestled one into the bathroom but ended up spreading blood all over the house. My friend cleaned it for me for which I am eternally grateful.
I am right handed. I had to have a nurse cut my meat!
Thanks, I can use the good luck!
September 24, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Oops, sh.. happens, I’m glad to hear that you are better and back home now. Thanks for letting us know despite 1-finger-typing!
What about some music for you? Maybe a ‘fingers’ song?
September 24, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Birgit,
Yikes!! I so love this song. Where have these guys been all of my life?
My hand kills me in between pain pils. I try to space them out more and more, but that is not easy. The surgery was only yesterday. I’m cursing a lot.
I knew Coffee regulars would wonder what had happened to me.
September 24, 2022 at 9:05 pm
I saw Dawson live countless times, first time in my early twenties, last time a few years ago. Unfortunately he doesn’t tour anymore. Great live-entertainer and quite popular among folk fans here.
Get well soon!
September 24, 2022 at 11:35 pm
I am a fan of rockabilly and this is perfectly similar.
September 24, 2022 at 8:19 pm
Yikes! Kat, I’m glad you’re doing okay, but what an ordeal!
September 24, 2022 at 11:42 pm
sprite,
What I found amazing is I was able to get the dogs apart, change my shirt and spray the blood on the floor hoping that would stop it from staining, all before I left. I think the shock off it kept the pain away fort a while.
I’m okay!!