A Trip to the E.R.
I hadn't planned on a trip to the emergency room this evening. About 5:30, a neighbor appeared at my back door. That was odd enough; Viktor speaks little English and almost always lets his wife - whose English is slightly better - act as liaison with the non-Russian-speaking neighbors. He explained as best he could that his wife Anna's blood pressure was too high and asked if I could drive her to the hospital. They have no car. Of course I put on my shoes, gathered my son, and drove Anna to the emergency room. Viktor couldn't come with us. Anna babysits during the day, and the toddler she cares for was still at their house.
My 10-year-old was great about it. I had been just about to get him some dinner, so I grabbed a granola bar for him to eat in the car. Anna couldn't walk without help, and was deathly pale and sick to her stomach. I worried as I drove that she might pass out. She is in her 60s and usually seems active and healthy, but she does have a history of high blood pressure and heart problems. I'm glad we're only 7 minutes from the hospital. When we arrived I ran in for a wheelchair, which Jon Morgan insisted on pushing. We stayed there with her for an hour or so, until she had gone through triage and was taken to a cubicle. Her blood pressure was still a little high but had come down a lot. The dizziness was passing, and her color looked much better. When we left, I told the nurse I'd have my husband drive Viktor over tonight. Bob speaks Russian so he'll be a lot more useful than I could be.
Most of Jon Morgan's dinner tonight came from the hospital vending machine, but if that's the worst thing that comes out of the evening, I'd say we're all doing just fine. I hope Anna is well enough to come home soon.
My 10-year-old was great about it. I had been just about to get him some dinner, so I grabbed a granola bar for him to eat in the car. Anna couldn't walk without help, and was deathly pale and sick to her stomach. I worried as I drove that she might pass out. She is in her 60s and usually seems active and healthy, but she does have a history of high blood pressure and heart problems. I'm glad we're only 7 minutes from the hospital. When we arrived I ran in for a wheelchair, which Jon Morgan insisted on pushing. We stayed there with her for an hour or so, until she had gone through triage and was taken to a cubicle. Her blood pressure was still a little high but had come down a lot. The dizziness was passing, and her color looked much better. When we left, I told the nurse I'd have my husband drive Viktor over tonight. Bob speaks Russian so he'll be a lot more useful than I could be.
Most of Jon Morgan's dinner tonight came from the hospital vending machine, but if that's the worst thing that comes out of the evening, I'd say we're all doing just fine. I hope Anna is well enough to come home soon.