Lost in St Mary’s Hospital
Got a call from my sister the other day to say Dad had gone to the hospital. He was having some tests done. They found he had gallstones. He (as he told me) was scheduled to have one removed through his mouth that had gotten into the duct and if they could would remove his gallbladder the same way at the time. If not they would make the incision and remove it the “typical” way.
Dad After Red Jello
He called me right after the procedure was done and said he was back in his room and feeling okay. I decided to let him rest and would head down to see him in the afternoon. St Mary’s Hospital on St Marys street, how hard could this be. Right? (You sense a story coming on here don’t you)
I got to St Marys street and proceeded in the direction I was told to go. It was there, I could see it way off in the horizon, it was on St Marys street just as I thought, but I couldn’t get to it from St Marys street, instead I had to turn on Silverbell to get to the main entrance to the hospital.
It was obvious parking was a premium, thus the building of the new parking ram to the side of the main hospital. They had blocked off the ends of the rows of cars to create a means of driving around the end of rows to the next available row. However, someone had moved the cones at most of the rows creating “DEAD ENDS” at each row so everyone had to try and turn around and get out of the row to find a parking place.
The Front Desk
I finally found a spot and was feeling pretty good that I could see the main entrance sign, (two of them) Can you have two main entrances? I went through the doors to the main desk. I’ve always been told to stop and ask directions at the main desk. In a really large hospital I understand how that could be important. You might come in one entrance and still be a mile away from where you intend to go.
I didn’t see anyone at the front desk when I went by, no big deal how hard can it be, 3713 third floor. I turned the corner and found room numbers starting at 4000. This was on the first floor. Hum! There was an elevator so up to the third floor I went.
3900 – 39 something. Headed around the large square for the floor, no 3700′s. Asked a guy pushing a cart where 3713 was, he had no idea. Passed a few other people finally the dazed lost and confused look won out.
Can I help you, I was told I was in the wrong building. To go down the elevator take the hall to the chapel. I knew where the chapel was didn’t I? No. Find the Christmas tree. It is outside the chapel. Turn left go down the hall turn right go up the elevator.
The All Directions from Here Christmas Tree
It took a few minutes to find the elevators again. (Different elevators) I popped out in a place that looked even less familiar than the one I came in. Down a couple of halls turn left, turn right, turn back, then I saw it, The Christmas Tree, way down at the end of a hall. I walked to the tree and it was right outside the chapel door where four hallways came together. All hallways were at an angle on clear left in sight, wasn’t sure which one was the original left I was told to take since I had arrived there in a rather (I’m lost as hell in St Marys Hospital kind of way.
Took the left, went down the hall a long way into MRI ville and then to Radiology Land. Nothing that looked like elevators or rooms. Back up the hall, took another left. Up to the third floor on elevators I eventually found. Doors open to a hall and no one around anywhere. I stood there for a few seconds when a door opened and a nice lady in a security uniform asked me if she could help. Room 3713? Oh, this is a private floor and you can’t get there from here. Follow me.
Back on the elevator, back past the Christmas tree down past MRI ville and Radiology Land and beyond. There after an atrium was a bank of elevators to the right. Up to the third floor, when the doors opened I could see 3713. It only took 30 minutes.
I was there about 20 minutes when my sister arrived. I told her of the “adventure” finding dad and she wanted to know if I had asked for directions at the main desk? Hum. Didn’t see anyone there when I came in figured it was no big deal. I said everyone kept telling me directions from the Christmas Tree.
I wondered what they did after they take it down. Maybe they never take it down. Maybe it is always there to give directions “from”. Maybe they have maps that show where the Christmas tree is when it isn’t there and still give directions like “Go to where the Christmas tree stands when it is up”.
She was laughing, dad was laughing, the nurse was laughing, (maybe its true).
Arizona Drip System
As I got ready to leave I took a picture of Dad’s IV tree. He looked at me funny with a smile and asked “What is that for” he reads my blogs. I’m calling it an Arizona Drip System. We all laughed again.
Today, as I write, he is in surgery again. Yesterday was remove the sludge from the duct work. Today it is remove the gallbladder and stones.
I think I can find my way back even if they have moved the Christmas Tree.
