The Light At The End
Jerry Fletcher
Messaging Master and International Professional Speaker, I find the words and graphics Coaches, Consultants and Entrepreneurs use to become more memorable and more profitable even when they are not sure they are unique.
Monday night I thought I was going to see that light at the end of the tunnel again.
Twice before I’ve been there.
This time was unlike those.
Being alone makes all the difference.
Before I was surrounded by medical staff. This time I tried to sit up from where I was sleeping on the couch. I’d awakened in a sweat, disoriented, dizzy and incoherent. Even when I’d banged my way into the kitchen and guzzled a glass of water it didn’t help.
The 911 conclusion.
I struggled to my desk in the office and began the long process of deciding whether to dial 911 or not. When you can’t think straight it is a not an easy decision. And then there is the difficulty of dealing with an unfamiliar cell phone. I finally made the call.
First Responders.
My phone rang. A fire truck was outside. They needed to know what condo unit I lived in.? My memory was so far gone I had to look up the address on some mail. Five firemen crowded through the door, ran a bunch of tests on me, gave me some stuff to increase my blood glucose and then walked me out to a gurney by the front door.
The little things.
On arrival at the emergency ward, dressed in just shorts and a t-shirt, ?I had my phone but no wallet, no keys and was just beginning to move the notch on my blood sugar up from 43. I was chilled from the ride in the ambulance. The nurse knew what I needed. ?He reappeared after a few moments with two heated blankets. Little things like that make all the difference.
Six hours later.
They fed me, started a glucose line and kept giving me orange juice. Six hours later a morning shift nurse told me my Blood sugar was now 163. She gave me a note with the cab company phone number, told me I was released and could go home.
Fingers crossed.
I’m alive. My proctologist has seen the 911 results, met with me and moved me up in his list of folks for surgery. But that procedure hasn’t been scheduled yet. His best guess is a month out. That surgery could give me another 10 or 20 years. I’m looking forward to them.
The takeaways:
1.????? Don’t wait. Find a good doctor and have regular checkups.
2.????? Put an emergency data sheet on your refrigerator that includes emergency contacts, the drugs you take and how to contact your doctors.
3.????? Aggressively follow up testing and doctor referrals. If you don’t, no one will.
I’m Jerry Fletcher, strategic messaging consultant and professional international keynote speaker. I find the words and graphics individuals and organizations use to become even more memorable and more profitable. Learn more at my web sites:
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Volunteer English Tutor with Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) at TAFE Queensland. Retired civil engineer with 50 years experience in geotechnical investigation and consulting.
7 个月Good to hear, Jerry, that you survived your unscheduled night out. As they say, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”. Sounds like an effective, though scary, way to get yourself moved up the surgery schedule. Thanks for sharing. Sound advice as always. ??