Bonding with Strangers, Part 2

Part 2 

Just like many other moms after experiencing prolonged pains and discomforts of expecting days; the happiest moment of my life finally arrived. And my baby exited water life to enter human world.  She was cleaned, made to wear an identification band, diaper, clothes and was moved to a little nursery. There she was looked after by unknown caregivers who we trust by nature of services they render.

Meanwhile, the team in the surgery room looked busy fixing me, my apprehensions continued as I kept wondering, what if something goes wrong and the surgery didn’t turn out fine? and blah blah. As a timid believer, I was hooked on God, praying for me and my family’s wellness. By the time I shed tears, I felt a compassionate hand over my head. It was my Dr Speyer, the only familiar face whose presence meant a lot amongst the strangers in OR. I was assured of the safe surgery before being shifted to the private room.

There, I felt fortunate to be cared by wonderful RN’s (Korean, Afro-American, white American working for 12 hour shift) unlike my other friends who had hard time in the same hospital with a couple of nurses.

As I was in deep pain, spending painful nights (both emotional and physical) alone in the hospital bed, these RN’s made me feel comfortable. Though they took good care of me yet to me they looked like assistant butchers for inserting needles in miserable patients, warning them against  repeated intake of popular painkiller narcotics called ‘Percocet’, making post surgery patients walk without help (ignoring the instruction of a poster on the room’s wall that said, ‘don’t fall ask for help’) etc. However, they had their own medical reasons for doing so.

In between, a visit of the hospital’s modest CEO surprised me. I was asked if I had any complaints. I nodded and disclosed that hospital rules did not permit my older child’s night stay with me and that their website lacked such important information.

Before wrapping up, we were offered celebration meal. A small portable dining table and chairs were brought and delicious food was served sophisticatedly. For those moments we felt like royal guests.

On departure day, an RN provided us with all baby essentials, booklet on baby care, medicine details, etc and came all the way to exit gate to see us off.

In those three days, I developed a special bonding with all those who took care of me and helped me resume my normal life. (To be continued…)