TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE VI

DEATH IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

they told me that they're transferring me to the icu only because a bed was available there. do they tell that to everyone? i believed it. asking one of the doctor's to just shoot me he responded that it wasn't on his treatment list and he walked off.


maintenance cleaned the area in the next bay. the space was now available for the next person.

the next person in the adjoining bay who been admitted was in an accident. relatives were present and one of them was inconsolable. later i heard one of the staff talk about the blood that was present. i checked myself of course to make sure they weren't talking about me. nope - no blood - i think. over the next two days there was a constant stream of visitors to the next bay ending in more visitors, a private service and more tears.

maintenance cleaned the area. the space was now available for the next person.


the hospital is full up and only the lucky or dying can get a bed. in my case i believe that the kidney transplant of almost three months earlier gave me a leg up. they had a major interest in the procedure being successful as the total retail value of the kidney, medical staff, and services must be at least $200,000. too big to fail. like the banks and gm there was too much to lose and it would screw up their statistics. they are proud of their outstanding record. he cannot die!!!!!!!!

i must live for other octogenarians. don't worry folks us old geezers get second tier kidneys. they are called expanded criteria donor kidneys which means the organs are from cadavers and are not top notch. the medical people remove the organ from the deceased donor, put it in an iced container (i think), ship it to the transplant site, clean it up, check blood type and other blood factors, other stuff, roll the selected recipient into the operating room, and (simplifying) do the deed.

so far the one i got is working - i think.

TO BE CONTINUED. DISCHARGE DAY, YEA.

************************************************************************************************