The required fast plus no coffee contributed to my choice of an early morning appointment for “routine blood work.”
My diet of hot or cold water left me looking wane and feeling wobbly as I made my way to the receptionist’s desk. After giving my name and birthdate, I asked for a few sheets of the DO NOT RESUSCITATE forms. Thinking down the road. Just in case. After a cursory glance, the woman reluctantly left her post, shuffling through a set of files.
I thought,”She’s rather slow on the uptake, considering the request.”
The receptionist returned without the forms, sending another person to look. Meanwhile I’m thinking, “Would she speed up, if I suddenly ducked beneath this counter or would she simply scan the waiting room and say,’Next?’ ”
Strange thoughts swirled through my head while my body growled for something besides water and I waited for a hint of help.
After the second sleuth returned empty handed, the receptionist said,” We couldn’t find them. It’s early(7:25a.m.) and no nurses are here. That’s their area.”
I thought,”My, how they specialize.”
The receptionist interrupted my thoughts with, “When’s your next appointment?”
Like, we should find them by then.
I prayed, “Please, not any time soon, Lord.”
Just in case.
Drained and defeated in my mission, I slumped into a chair, just moments before a technician(blood sucker to some, Phlebotomist to others) invited me into her chamber.
As she tightened the band around my arm, I said with straight face, “I don’t wish to alarm you but I’ve requested Do Not Resuscitate forms. No one has found them. I hope you’ll take my word and honor my request, should that be necessary.”
She dropped by arm, took one look at my face, then did anything but “routine blood work.”
The old phlebotomist laughed.
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Jan, just remember that, in medicine, negative is positive. So, when they tell you that your results were negative and the findings “unremarkable,” just say thank you Jesus.
Blessings, Dale