According to Buddha

Suffering is a good teacher to those who are quick and willing to learn from it. But it becomes a tyrant to those who resist and resent.

june 19, 2016
dearest dad

it’s father’s day. you’re in the foothills hospital. you’ve been in care with alberta health services since march 17th 2016…

and the…

professor of neurosurgery said
“your father is as strong as a bull…”
i said
wrong

nurse practitioner said
“your father doesn’t need to return to our clinic…”
i said
wrong

md looking at x-ray said
“it’s on the wrong side…your father was prematurely released by a resident doctor without looking at the tests…i’m sorry…”
i said
wrong

clinical and surgical assistant said
“your father will need a ‘relocation’ surgery…”
i said
wrong

md said
“your father will have another 5 years…”
i said
wrong

clinical and surgical assistant said
“here’s my personal number i’ll check on your father every day…”
i said
wrong

nurse said
“if you want to see a doctor from the adult hydrocephalus clinic i suggest you come before their rounds…anytime after 6am…”
i said
wrong

nurse said
“why are you here?…so sorry…”
i said
wrong

food server points at the breakfast tray and said
“here’s your father’s breakfast”
i said
wrong

resident doctor said
“oh really?…i’ll make sure the team’s nurse practitioner is here at 10am…”
i said
wrong

nurse said
“well no one from the team can meet you now…sorry…”
i said
wrong

patient care manager said
“write or phone in your concerns about what has happened to your father to our patient relations department…again, i’m so sorry…”
i said
wrong

nurse practitioner said
“does your father walk?…”
i said
wrong

nurse said
“oh your father will be in long term care…”
i said
wrong

nurse practitioner said
“your father will use the elevator when he leaves here…”
i said
wrong

nurse practitioner said
“your father had another stroke last week…the team came in…so let’s do another stunt study…then we’ll get a geriatrician…ok?”
i said
wrong

caretaker said
how’s your papa?

i cry*

i said
wrong (too long)

by the wrong means
it was the wrong plan
in the wrong hands
the wrong theory
the wrong questions
with the wrong replies
wrong
wrong

***

day #90 (2 months and 29 days),  Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta June 2016.

(* for my Father, Mother, and sister)