Gratitude/Home from Hospital

[The Sisters of Mercy take a break from ministering to the sick to enjoy a light refreshment at a neighborhood bistro.]


My cousin is happily at home again after about two weeks in the hospital.* Yes, this is the same cousin who told me the squirrel/ice cream story. And I am delighted to know that she is well enough to be discharged but also I believe that a hospital is one of the worst places to be ill.

I have nothing against her particular hospital or the no-doubt overworked nurses, techs, doctors, social workers, candy stripers**, etc. And this is not even a rant against the administrators. I'm sure they're all doing the best dang job they can. I just don't think hospitals are conducive to getting well.

They're absolutely a great place to go if you're having a baby or you've taken a baseball bat to the knee or your arm is suddenly bending in a direction in which it really ought not be bending.*** Short-term events. Anything more, though, and I can't help but think of the quote my late father's cardiologist told me:

"The longer you're in the hospital, the longer you're in the hospital."

Hospitals are not restful. On top of your being sick and anxious about being sick, there are machines beeping and lights flashing and people prodding you at odd hours.

As Allan Sherman sang so well:
"And if you're sleeping in the hospital because you're ill
Betcha the nurse will wake you up to take a sleeping pill"

And most experts (be they Eastern or Western) agree that sleep is healing for everything but concussions**** but you don't get much sleep in hospitals.

So the longer you're in the hospital, the longer you're in the hospital.

And that sucks.

So I'm thankful to the universe that she's home. That's it. Just thanks.



* That's "in hospital" for you Brits. I'm nothing if not international.

** Sucky job #311: I was a candy striper as a teen. Did you know there's no actual candy involved?! I was misled.

*** I have experienced one of these events. I'm not telling you which. I have to keep some mystery.

**** And polypeptides, if you are Fred Flinstone.