11:45pm Rachael repeated over and over in her head. How could three hours pass without an update or even a nurse to wait by my side helping me cope she thought. It was unusual, odd, and a bit alarming. Something wasn't right, she could feel the uneasy feeling settling into her body as her anxiety spiked to new levels. She glanced at the clock on the wall again, 11:47pm. Only two minutes since the last time she checked. It seemed like eternity since she arrived at the hospital. It was as though time stopped and here she stood in limbo waiting for answers that never came. She had to stand. The pink waiting room chairs lost their comfort hours ago, or perhaps she couldn't sit long enough to get comfortable. Her nerves were on pins and needles even the slightest noise turned her head. Rachael started to pace across the blue and pink speckled carpet wringing her hands and gazing out the door worried the doctor might pass by or forget she was there. Two nurses in green scrubs passed the open door. Nothing. Time was running out. The longer she waited the bleaker the outcome of the situation. Another fidgeting glance at the clock broke her last strand of sanity. 11:50pm. Where was the doctor? Why was it taking so long? Her nerves were frazzled and her stomach twisted in knots. Where was her relief? She waited long enough. The silent anticipation soared far above her limits and it was too unbearable to continue. Rachael squared her shoulders prepared to go out to battle. The emergency wing buzzed with the nights fast paced rush. Nurses darted back and forth from their desk to various patients and families, carrying paperwork and charts to their proper locations. Rachael watched a heavy set nurse with long thick straw like brandy colored hair approach an elderly woman who sounded like she was gargling on mucus. The automatic doors on Rachael's right slid open allowing an icy burst of winter wind to filter through the gap. It was still snowing, Rachael could tell by the white specks melting on the hair of a couple who rushed through with a crying baby. It was pure madness. She watched as a rather skinny nurse paused to answer the obnoxious ring of the desk phone. She took this opportunity to step up to the desk. The woman's mouth arched in a frown as she spoke in an irritated tone.
"Is she having trouble breathing?" Rachael's impatient mannerisms caught the nurse's eye. She ignored them as she averted her gaze from Rachael.
"And what does the rash look like?" Rachael couldn't believe what she was seeing. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Excuse me." Rachael finally interrupted with heat behind her words. The nurse placed her hand over the receiver, "Ma'am you are just going to have to wait your turn."
"I've already..." The nurse punched the air with her index finger and frowned at her. Rachael sucked in a good amount of air and held it until her cheeks felt hot and her lungs ached. She let it rush through her nose like steam out of a boiling kettle. Without warning Rachael felt her right arm shoot over the counter and firmly press the disconnect button. She saw the nurse stared in shock at her finger still pressed firmly against the button. The woman raised her eyes to Rachael's scowl. The nurse hung up the phone making slow movements to keep the situation under control.
"Ma'am I am sorry but there are other patients waiting ahead of you." Rachael felt her jaw drop and her blood pressure sky rocket. Her patience snapped like giant rubber bands under huge amounts of pressure.
"I've been waiting for three agonizing hours for someone to tell me what the heck is going on!" Rachael's voice carried over loud noises in the emergency room. People's heads turned questioning the situation. Scanning the room, the nurse brought her full attention back to Rachael who looked frazzled enough for the both of them yet the nurse took a deep breath to keep a calm expression.
No comments:
Post a Comment