Hi all, I'm still in the hospital, but back to the blogging board. Thanks to all of my virtual best friends who sent the encouraging emails and comments. I can't believe how fondly I've come to think of you all, though most of you I've never met. Thanks for the very kind thoughts and prayers.
Speaking of kindness, I have to say that nurses are a rare and beautiful breed. I devoted a whole chapter in my book, An Innocent, A Broad to singing their praises, but feel that praise is not enough for these overworked, underpaid (no matter how much they're getting paid, it's not enough in my mind) men and women. I was in the recovery room for several hours, and was quite awake and alert, and I had the privilege of witnessing the patience, kindness and empathy of two nurses/superheroes named Brenda and Nicole. Now I wish I could remember their last names but I was not at my best. Anyway, they each had several post-op patients to attend to. Their patients were suffering. Some cried, cursed, demanded more medication, sometimes insisted they see a doctor NOW, and Brenda and Nicole never lost their patience. They spoke to their patients kindly, acknowledged their pain, and worked hard to stop it. At one point, Brenda was simultaneously writing something on my chart, tapping the toes of the man next to me whom she worried was overly sedated, and answering a doctor's questions about a child who had just been brought in. The reason I remember all this is because I had an epidural in addition to general anesthesia, so when I came to, I was relatively pain free and alert and got to see all the goings on.
Now, perhaps I'm biased because my life has been somewhat in their hands the past few days, but in the looks department, the staff at Mt. Sinai puts any television hospital drama staff to shame. These people are gorgeous. If any of you are single and in your twenties or early thirties and ready to settle down, here's what you must do. Get hurt. Not too bad. Just bad enough to get you admitted to this hospital. You will feel like a kid in a candy shop. I just had Noam Kurtis, the head of the "pain team" in here to remove my epidural and found myself blushing and flirting like a schoolgirl because the man looks more like a movie star than most of our friends who are real movie stars!
Okay, now I'm exhausted and must stop typing and go back to watching bad TV for awhile. Oh, and thanks, honey, for the guest blog!
Comments (13)
Glad to hear you are doing so well and still have your great sense of humor!
Get better soon! You are missing some AMAZING fall color here in Connecticut! I swear, it seems to have changed overnight.
Posted by Alyson | October 2, 2008 11:13 AM
Posted on October 2, 2008 11:13
Hi Ann,
Glad you are feeling better! How cool that you have reached so many people with your blog! Get well soon.
Best, Laurie
Posted by Laurie Fullerton | October 2, 2008 11:57 AM
Posted on October 2, 2008 11:57
It's great to hear your "voice," and you ARE back in full voice -- soon to be fully in body, too!
Enjoy the lovely view (hmm, my back has been acting up lately...) and keep on healin'!
Posted by Cheryl | October 2, 2008 12:02 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 12:02
So good to read a blog from you today, Ann. Continue to get plenty of rest.
: )
Posted by Annie | October 2, 2008 12:36 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 12:36
OMG! A spa? A chef? But ...but? No on demand telly? Ann, where should we complain to get that situation taken care of? So glad you are doing better. We missed you and even Denis couldn't replace your our daily Leary fix.
Posted by tammy | October 2, 2008 1:01 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 13:01
Welcome back! We missed you..... so glad that all went well.
Posted by lisa | October 2, 2008 1:40 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 13:40
Ann:
How great it was to check your website to see if anyone had posted new comments to Denis's blog, only to find a new blog from you! Your wit, acute observation skills, and warmth for your fellow human beings are fully functional, even in your weakened state. I'm very happy that your surgery went smoothly and that you are recovering in a well-managed, capable hospital.
And you're correct about nurses being under-appreciated and underpaid. Those who are in the mold of your recovery room angels, Brenda and Nicole, are the very foundation of the medical profession. It's good to know you are receiving terrific care.
It was kind of Denis to post a blog notifying us of your medical status. (Not to mention quite thrilling for those of us who are also his fans to read something so heartwarming and personal from him.) He wrote a descriptive and loving account of his agonizing wait during your surgery. Thank you for asking him to write to us.
While I know you despise hugs and sentimentality, I must say that you and Denis have created a marvelous, admirable, and enviable relationship. You are to be applauded.
Take care of yourself and enjoy being pampered while recovering in the hospital.
Posted by Elizabeth Madlem | October 2, 2008 2:03 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 14:03
WELCOME BACK!!!! Glad all went well and the scenery in the hospital is nice to watch. ;)
Posted by courtney | October 2, 2008 2:30 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 14:30
Great to know you're feeling so well and doing fine, Ann. It was so sweet of your husband to update us all on your progress. Don't trade him in for Noam 'the boy babe nurse'...I believe you've got a keeper. If only I were in my 20's or 30's, I'd do just what you suggested; move there and get just a little hurt But alas, I have a keeper too...Oh, and I'm not in my 20's or 30's.
Mary
Posted by Mary | October 2, 2008 2:58 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 14:58
Glad to hear you came through with flying colors. Make the best of your recovery time by resting up and doing what the super-models..er Dr.s and nurses tell you to do.
Thanks to Denis for the update!
Posted by Wendy | October 2, 2008 3:19 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 15:19
Ann, It was so great to read a blog from you...I am very happy to hear you are doing so well and from the sounds of it, getting plenty of pampering....Its really wonderful to hear how kind and compassionate the nurses are there.....I can't agree more about nurses being overworked and underpaid....One of my little nephews tells me "Well, your the doctor" and I tell him, nope it goes like this, I am the nurse I do all the work, doctors get all the money....
Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest...
I, too, must agree with everyone else on the blog that it was very thoughtful of Denis to update us on your progress...
Posted by Kathie | October 2, 2008 11:56 PM
Posted on October 2, 2008 23:56
Thank full you are getting better everyday. I appreciate the blog and look forward to more about the hospital and its staff and your contuined recovery.
Posted by Destini | October 3, 2008 8:09 AM
Posted on October 3, 2008 08:09
I'm thrilled to hear everything went great and you're headed home! The only piece of advice I have is to take it easy (I learned that one the hard way...ouch).
Posted by Aine | October 3, 2008 2:14 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 14:14