An elderly guy puts his proudly-wrapped presents for his daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids in a couple of paper bags from the grocery store. He goes down the elevator of his senior apartment complex with his wife, who is carrying a couple of the bigger presents. An unexpected cement block of pain hits him in the chest, knocks his breath out and makes him sweat. He tells his wife that something is wrong and that he should sit down for a moment.
As he makes his way to the bench in the lobby of his apartment building, he collapses and loses his pulse. Presents fly all over the place as he spaghetti-noodle flops to the lobby floor in a random assortment of arms and legs.
Phone calls are made and coding chaos ensues; a responding EMT scoops up the presents, throws them in a big garbage bag and takes them on the rig with the patient.
I just want to say that there's just something especially sad about coding someone with a big bag of orphaned presents hanging out in the corner of the room.
I agree, it's a lousy way to spend Christmas: yet, someone has to do it. Thank you for being there for him, and for us, during this season of grace.
ReplyDeleteMay the blessings of the season be yours in abundance.
You're right. That is especially sad. Especially for his wife.
ReplyDeleteHoly downer Batman!
ReplyDeleteBetter that, than leaving them in the hallway to be stolen. At least this way they can be eventually delivered to their intended recipients.
ReplyDeleteToday one of my patients found out she had a lung mass and I sent another to the ICU with a brain bleed. There's nothing good about the ER on Christmas.
ReplyDeleteNo one can live forever, a generous person or a scrooge. This "elderly guy" will probably be remembered fondly . What more can you hope for when you are gone?
ReplyDeleteVery sad, but much worse to die alone in a lobby. At least his wife had the comfort of everything possible being done for him. It may ring false to you, but it will be an important part of the story for her -- that she was able to get help for him. Thank you all for what you do.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Mark -- how awesome would you have to be to earn the kind of tribute given to Larry Stewart this Christmas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xa6msB00Ds