February 07, 2004

Sickness and hospitals

Earlier I mentioned the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea and wished that I never get sick in Lucea. I was just thinking last night that generally, my health has been good over my 30-odd years. Nothing too drastic, except....


When I was about 6 years old, and a student of St George's Girls School on Duke Street near Parliament, I complained of a tummy ache which had apparently lasted for a day or two. On this particular day, my Sis took me over to Mother's office which was luckily across the road. I remember this as clear as day.

Mummy put me to lie on one of them wrought iron lounge chairs in the office bathroom (Ministry of Home Affairs as it was called then), and successive people kept coming in and asking how I was.

How I was was in excruciating pain, especially when anyone's hand went near my lower right abdomen. Off to Dr Bell it was, because by now, Mummy was convinced it was serious. You know why? I hadn't eaten in a couple days! Very unusualy for this here little girl.

It was serious.

Dr Bell said "don't even take her home, carry her straight to Children's Hospital". I think that was the name in those days. The diagnosis? Appendicitis. Advanced stages. Dr Bell told Mummy that if I wasn't out of the operating table by X time, it would have meant that things had not gone well.

I remember the nurses when they were undressing me. She was taking off my underwear and commented "Wait, den a two panty she wear?". I was too drugged to respond "one is a bloomers silly".

I remember waking up just outside the operating theatre and asking to urinate.

I then woke up, after the operation, in the ward and declared "I'm hungry".

That's when they knew I was back to my normal self! And I ate off one of the other patient's food. Her name was 'Pencil'. I believe that was a nickname. Generally the stay was pleasant and the food was good. I remember Mince and Carrots, Sardine and Jello.

That's the only major operation I've had, and thankfully, the only hospital STAY I've had. Oh, for sure, I've visited the hospital many times apart from that.....

1. To get a dog bite dressed and get a tetanus shot
2. To take out a lump
3. To cut out a wood splinter out of my finger nail (that hurt so bad)
4. To check that I was not dying from a tumour or stroke!
5. To get many X-rays

So if you're in the market for a fairly healthy girl with good vitals, I'm it :

Posted by yamfoot at February 7, 2004 09:03 AM
Comments

Heh heh..... I like the advertising here.

Before clicking the extended part of the entry I said to myself....sounds like she had Appendicitis.

Good that you got it looked after. Busta is not a bad place at all...just nuff sick pickney. I used to refer to it as the Paradise of the Govt. Healthcare system, and I believe it still is.

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 7, 2004 10:40 AM

that means you used to study you books man. good stuff.

Had it been left for much longer, I woulda been a goner I'm told, and not able to share these blogs with you all. Unfortunately Dr Bell himself passed on some years later, but not from Appendicitis, but rather from a heart attack.

Do you remember that? His wife, who had never driven, or who had stopped driving, had to drive him in from the country. I suppose that must have contributed to his heart attack! But sad, cause he was a very nice doctor.

Posted by: Michelle at February 7, 2004 12:44 PM

Don't think I know the Dr. Bell you are referring to Michelle.

Yeah, I used to try a 'ting wid de studying....but any half decent UWI Medical graduate should consider 'Pendic (as dem call it here) in the history that you had described.

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 8, 2004 06:56 PM