February 19, 2008
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Spare Ribs
I've written about my one neighbor before. He is 70 something, has had 3 heart attacks, 5 or so stints put in, and a whole ton of other health issues. Him and his wife live alone in their small place.
I generally don't run EMS calls much anymore since I stopped driving the ambulance. That aspect doesn't really appeal to me. But whenever we are called out for my neighbor I run down the road to see if I can help.
About 11 days ago (the 7th?) they called 911 as he was having chest pains and difficultly breathing. I had just finished dinner and sat down at the computer. It was getting on about 10pm I guess. Sigh. So I ran on over there. He was laid out in the bed just moaning and such. Each time he is a bit worse. I have no illusions I can really do anything other than start CPR should he code.
He and his wife sleep in separate beds. So I busied myself by pushing her bed more out of the way and moving a hope chest so the actual medical people would have room to work on him. Plus we would need to get him loaded on the cot. His wife can't drive at night so she pulled me aside and asked me to go to the hospital with him. I didn't really want to but they are my neighbors. She was hopeful I could bring him back home that night but I figured the chances of that were nil. Did I mention I don't care for hospitals? I went through this exact same thing with my own father numerous time over his slow decline.
So after we got him loaded (and I'm leaving a lot of details out) and the ambulance was on it's way, I went home and changed and headed to the hospital (about a 25 minute drive). I stayed with him in the ER while they ran all the tests, took him to x-ray, I called his wife to update her, ect. By this time he was feeling better and would not stop talking. lol. The finally said they were admitting him which was my green light to leave. I got home just before 1am.
He was in the hospital for 8 days. I walked over to check in on him at home yesterday. Can't say he looked very well but, as to be expected, he is happy to be home.
His wife is insisting on making me a meal of spare ribs as a "thank you". If I must.
Comments (4)
They are fortunate to have you as their neighbor. I understand about not wanting to go to the hospital but it was extremely nice of you to do it for her anyways. I do hope that he does improve enough so that this doesn't happen again soon, but from the sounds of it he is steadily declining as many do under those circumstances. It is sad and very hard to watch. I hope it isn't a too drawn out ordeal for everyone's sake.
Thank God for people like you.
That was very nice of you to help out. Many people wouldn't have bothered.
Thanks all.
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