Border Patrol Stories
Hospital Support
While going through and especially painful divorce, I accepted a detail to Border Patrol HQ in DC. I was far away from family and friends. I had no support system in place.
One evening, I noticed an odd pain in my lower right abdomen and immediately thought and dismissed the idea that it was appendicitis. I thought, I'll go to work tomorrow and if the pain is still there, then I'll go to the hospital.
Mid-morning the next day at work, the pain had become more pronounced and I realized that I really needed to get it checked out.
So, I went to my supervisor Rich H. and told him, "Sir, I've had this pain for almost 24 hours. It might be appendicitis and I think I need to go to the hospital right now. I respectful request sick leave for the rest of the day."
Without missing a beat Rich said, "Denied! Get back to work."
My response, "10-4 sir. When I collapse unconscious, please let the paramedic know I'll be in the cubicle over there."
Of course Rich was joking and I left work for the hospital.
Once at the hospital, tests were conducted that confirmed that my appendix was near bursting. The doctor told me to make my calls, that I was going into surgery immediately. Well, I only had Rich to contact. So, I sent him a quick text and went into surgery.
Now, Rich had a horrible commute that was over two hours, one-way. That four hour commute was on top of a ten hour workday. Further, he had a young child with significant heath needs. Rich was at capacity!
I woke up in a recovery bed at about 10PM. At the foot of my bed stood Rich, still in dress uniform.
I asked him, "What are you doing here?"
He told me that he knew I was alone and he felt it important that I not be alone when I woke up after surgery.
Years later and I still tear up when I tell that story.
To end on a funny note, several months later while leaving a neighborhood pub after a few too many to drink, I was telling a companion about my "emergency episiotomy".
After I said it, I thought, "That din't sound right." But the conversation continued to other subjects without and further discussion.
The next day, after the alcohol induced cobwebs dissipated, I released that I had referred to the wrong medical procedure and was relieved that no-one caught my mistake. By the way, I'm a man.
One evening, I noticed an odd pain in my lower right abdomen and immediately thought and dismissed the idea that it was appendicitis. I thought, I'll go to work tomorrow and if the pain is still there, then I'll go to the hospital.
Mid-morning the next day at work, the pain had become more pronounced and I realized that I really needed to get it checked out.
So, I went to my supervisor Rich H. and told him, "Sir, I've had this pain for almost 24 hours. It might be appendicitis and I think I need to go to the hospital right now. I respectful request sick leave for the rest of the day."
Without missing a beat Rich said, "Denied! Get back to work."
My response, "10-4 sir. When I collapse unconscious, please let the paramedic know I'll be in the cubicle over there."
Of course Rich was joking and I left work for the hospital.
Once at the hospital, tests were conducted that confirmed that my appendix was near bursting. The doctor told me to make my calls, that I was going into surgery immediately. Well, I only had Rich to contact. So, I sent him a quick text and went into surgery.
Now, Rich had a horrible commute that was over two hours, one-way. That four hour commute was on top of a ten hour workday. Further, he had a young child with significant heath needs. Rich was at capacity!
I woke up in a recovery bed at about 10PM. At the foot of my bed stood Rich, still in dress uniform.
I asked him, "What are you doing here?"
He told me that he knew I was alone and he felt it important that I not be alone when I woke up after surgery.
Years later and I still tear up when I tell that story.
To end on a funny note, several months later while leaving a neighborhood pub after a few too many to drink, I was telling a companion about my "emergency episiotomy".
After I said it, I thought, "That din't sound right." But the conversation continued to other subjects without and further discussion.
The next day, after the alcohol induced cobwebs dissipated, I released that I had referred to the wrong medical procedure and was relieved that no-one caught my mistake. By the way, I'm a man.
Hospital Support
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