Editor: On Dec. 18, after suffering from what I thought was the flu I went to see my doctor.
She took one look at me and insisted I go straight to the hospital.
My wife had to drive me as I was too weak to go by myself. I walked into the emergency section of Langley Memorial Hospital to find every chair was taken by other patients.
I am barely able to stand but make my way to the reception desk and register. My wife found me a chair and shortly I was called to the triage area.
The nurse recognized immediately that my breathing was difficult and got me a cart to sit on so she can put an oxygen nose piece on me.
As an old M.A.S.H. fan I remember that triage is intended to prioritize patients’ treatment based on those needing to be treated before others.
Well, I must have been given a high priority, because within a short time I was taken to the lab to have blood drawn and shortly after that had an X-ray of my chest.
I probably arrived at the hospital about 4:30 p.m. and by 7:30 p.m. I was in a bed in the emergency ward. Considering the number of patients waiting in emergency I feel very fortunate to have received such quick treatment.
Next is a visit from a young doctor — I’m afraid I can’t remember his name but when he started to speak to me I thought of Ringo Starr of the Beatles as he had a beautiful Liverpool accent.
Well, the accent may have been beautiful the news he had for me was not. I did not have the flu instead I had contracted a virus and had pneumonia in both lungs and the infection was very serious.
He described to me the plan of treatment that included massive amounts of antibiotics to be administered intravenously and then they would see how to proceed based on the results.
Well I am pleased to say the treatment worked and by the next morning I was feeling much better.
That night a British nurse named Wendy was my Florence Nightingale.
Wendy, I thank you so very much for all the help and attention I received that night. The next day my new Florence was Laura.
Honestly, I would not be able to choose between Wendy and Laura as to who was kinder or more considerate of me and my needs through this most difficult time. Thank you both for your dedication to your profession.
Finally a shout out to the doctors and nurses on 2 South for helping with my recovery and getting me home for the holidays.
I know we all hear about how our health system is screwed up with delays and all kinds of other problems.
But I have to say the system worked for me and I’ll be ever grateful to everyone at Langley Memorial for the treatment I received.
John Cowie,
Walnut Grove
