Close Call...A Little Too Close

Photo by Brian Haney.

You can read the full story and get more photos here: The Daily Record

Baskin Robbins Fender (almost) Bender

So. Imagine yourself in a parking lot, say, at an ice cream shop. As you sit, waiting for someone to back out of a parking place, you notice that the person backing up isn't paying attention and that they're going to hit you. Now just think how much damage that would inflict on your 2002 Toyota Corolla. Not to mention the injuries, pain and suffering to which you would be subjected.

This is a call that we had a while ago. Two girls were in the car, both just under 20 years of age. I can understand calling the cops to get an accident report. But calling 911 for an injury accident? Really? Why not just call your lawyer directly? Thankfully, no one wanted to go to the hospital.

He Seemed Like He Couldn't Catch His Breath

We were toned out for a man with difficulty breathing. We arrive on scene and are greeted by the daughter of my patient. As we approached my patient I noted that he was about 70, thin build, good skins (not blue, pale...) and laying on the couch with no apparent distress. The daughter told me that her father only spoke Chinese but that she could translate. The daughter then informed us that my patient has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. While he was on the his way to his appointment yesterday he started feeling short of breath and ended up being seen at the ER. There he received a steroid shot and was sent home. After going through a thorough assessment AMR showed up. At this point, my patient asked if was going to the hospital...in English! At that point the assessment took a radical turn. I was able to talk to my patient directly and found out that he had no medical complaint at all. He had just been laying on the couch taking a nap when we had shown up. When I confronted his daughter she simply said, "He seemed like he couldn't catch his breath." I got the distinct impression that they were just trying to get an evening off from taking care of their sick father. The father must have understood this. He said he would go to the hospital because his family wanted him to go. Now I understand that taking care of someone as their health is deteriorating is a daunting and overwhelming task but calling 911 for a "baby sitter"...that's not right.

AMR On Scene

I enjoy working with the AMR crews for the most part. They are competent and professional bunch (which was not my experience with private sector medics in another part of the state).

We were toned out for a fall with injuries at Home Depot. As we pulled in we saw that AMR was already on scene. I know I should be happy because it means that the patient was able to get care they needed faster but what really makes me happy is that I don't have to do the paperwork. Then the AMR crew cancelled us before even getting out of the rig. It's a little strange to be the one getting cancelled. Nice though.

Daddy's Home!!

As I pull up to the house I hit the little clicker on my visor opening the garage door. After I park in the garage (a strange thing for a Californian to do) I get ready for one of the best moments of my day. As I enter the house I am almost always greeted by my two older kids screaming, "DADDA!!" They then will stop whatever they are doing and run up for a hug and a kiss. The moment usually only lasts a few seconds but I love it. Only then do I get to find my wife and give her her hug and kiss. Somewhere along the way my cat will start circling my legs and, with a twitching tail, wait for me to pet her.

The other day when I got home my daughter was a little extra excited. She told me that she had made a present for me. She hurriedly went and retrieved this:

My daughter knows that I love gum. So while she was going through her Halloween candy she discovered two pieces of bubble gum. She decided on her own that she was going to give them to me. She grabbed a sheet of paper and colored it (for wrapping paper) and then wrapped the present. It was one of the greatest gifts that I've ever received.

Thank you my Monkey (her nick name).