The Doctor Is, Where Again?

My computer says 2:45 a.m. and I was on the verge of sleep just a couple of hours ago. I just came home with a tummy fully satisfied from a meal of flaked adobo from Heaven n’ Eggs at Glorietta 4, and excited about a new book I purchased after some girl blurted out super enthusiastically that "The Time Traveller’s Wife is great!," when my sister told me she’s having an allergy attack. I was naturally worried but was trying to dismiss the panic by looking for a  Celestamine tablet I know I have in my bag. As I frantically search for the med, in the process stepping on all things I have in my bed, breaking my earphone case, and crumpling my new bookmark, my sister showed me that  her ears are now really swollen and that she’s already feeling something blocking her airway so I decided to bring her to the hospital nearest our place. Now this is the time when I dearly wished I have a car and can drive.   

So we went out at 1.00 in the morning, a couple of females walking down an empty street. It’s a good thing we didn’t have to wait long for a ride. So I breathed a sigh of relief as we entered the emergency room door, only to sigh again several times after realizing no one, no nurse, no guard, no doctor, is taking care of business. There was a guy lying on a bed and another one I thought was a companion (an old guy, also a patient, apparently waiting to have his blood pressure checked; after almost an hour probably, he got his readings, 130/100. Geez, mine earlier in the day was 130/90 ). So after about 20 minutes of trying to sit still, waiting for someone to come down to the ER,  all the time checking if my sister still has a recognizable face, I willed myself to go through off-limits doors and went straight up the nurses station, where I found several of them busy….chatting. 

Naturally unaggressive, I had to find my voice to speak rather forcefully, "Wala ba talaga nagbabantay sa ER nyo?" So the nurse on duty said (but only after he realized we have an urgent case. It’s an ER, for G’s sakes!) "Pasensya na, me inaasikaso kasi yung doktor namin. Emergency. Baba na po kayo, susunod ako agad." So we did, and I told the old guy waiting what had transpired upstairs. He suddenly burst in anger that I had to pacify him so as to avoid more time wasting if he’ll go on confronting the nurse who left him there to wait. Suddenly there were two nurses, two aides, and one doctor. Even the guards were back by the door. I could’ve laughed my ass off but then I have more pressing things to do. I was told to pay for the injectibles at the pharmacy, so I did. The pharmacist was annnoyed at the disturbance (she was initially out of sight, taking a nap in some corner), with me tapping at the window, that I feared she would stick in me the needle I just paid for. I have to say, among them hospital staff,  she’s the one I can forgive readily.    

The pharmacist was so sleepy she had to count my P200 change (two pieces of 100) for maybe about 30 seconds (I’m not making this up!). While she was at it, I was scaring myself looking at the empty, dark corridor, half hoping I won’t see any apparation whatsoever. Then, there was a commotion as the nurses came down running, acquiring equipment from the ER. Somebody’s having sepsis, they say. I looked wearily at the old defibrillation machine, wondering how much chances the patient have surviving in these conditions. It’s a scary thought - diminishing your chances because you had to place your life in the hands of an institution lacking in both technology and concerned personnel. Of course, I cannot say for sure that that hospital is all that. I hadn’t been there long to be sure.

So when I came back, my sis already had her injection; they just took what I bought as a replacement. The drug they gave her was Benadryl, no wonder she suddenly dozed off. I was trying to talk to her so she’ll not fall into deep sleep right then and there when another guy came in, asking for stiches. He had a huge gash in the forehead and his clothes are already bloodied.  I suddenly felt like getting out of there soon, or else I might pass out myself (which, ironically, wouldn’t be too bad since I’m already in an ER).

I had no choice but to leave the ER while I searched for a cab. It’s another blessing that there was a line of cabs that came by as soon as I reached the exit. So there - the highlight of my Saturday. Funny it happened even before I ended my Friday. It’s time to sleep now. I can already see my sister’s ears shrinking back to its normal size.