Hospital scenes

He arrived alone, a thin man in a white shirt with light blue checks, the top buttons undone. He matched the shirt with shorts and slippers and his hair was uncombed.

Had he fasted? the radiation therapist asked. Yes, since 6 am. That’s more than 3 hours, she said, so we can see you next.

When he finished, he told the therapist he had a fever every afternoon. He declined her suggestion to see the doctor on duty.

You can call for an appointment with your doctor anytime, she said. You don’t have an appointment now but you can call and make one if you need. The number is on your card, let me show you.

I have so many questions. The shirt was too loose, was it someone’s discard or was it his own shirt and he’d lost weight? Does he have family? Does he know how ill he is? How does he cope? Who made the appointment for radiation therapy? Why doesn’t he have another appointment?

On another day at the clinic, there was another old chap. I slowly realised he was actually chaperoned by two nursing home staff who sat far apart from him.

He looked like any other patient waiting his turn except he echoed what he heard in a soft, high-pitched voice. When the nurse called a patient’s name, he would repeat the name in his falsetto. When the appointment board chimed, he would echo that too, “Bing Bong!”

I can still hear him, “Bing Bong!”

World Limerick Day

Dementia took her ability to speak  
She no longer walks her knees are weak
She can hardly see
She knows not me
Yet smiles wickedly as her diapers leak

That’s my little attempt for World Limerick Day.

A New Start

One of my favourite lunch places in the city centre is closed now. It’s probably a result of Covid and work from home practices, with not enough working people in the city and needing lunch. I was disappointed to find it gone when I made my first trip back to the city centre today.

At my next favourite cafe, I find the “drinks uncle” holding fort. He used to only make hot drinks, and other workers would man the cash register and work in the kitchen. But today he was the sole worker. He made my drink, took my money and gave me change. There was no one else there and he seemed okay. So he’s actually far more capable than I knew.

Slight changes but oh so significant. I wonder what’s next. The newspapers warn that a recession is imminent and inevitable. Especially with the vexing war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile it’s Mother’s Day weekend (and already May 7th) but some are still in the mood for May the 4th. I wonder who they are. Perhaps I should have had a photo taken with them.