MOMENT

Tags

diagnosis, disease, doctor, hospital, medical, medication, mystery, personal, physician, treatment, virus

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Invasive meningococcal disease
(IMD) caused by N. meningitidis
is relatively uncommon, but the
consequences can be devastating.
Even when treated in an otherwise
healthy person IMD can be fatal
within 48 h. Case-fatality rates
exceed 10%, and up to 20% of
survivors sustain permanent sequelae,
including neurologic complications,
loss of limbs, hearing loss, and paralysis…

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recently

i was hospitalized, diagnosed and treated

for a disease (long story).

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my doctor now tells me

i didn’t have that disease —

he doesn’t know what i had

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the good news —  the treatment was successful

i am cured

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what I had may have been

a minor strain of a virus

transmitted, in the same manner as a cold or the flu

*glares accusingly at co-workers, gym members

and bus riders*

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i was healthy one moment

the next moment i could have been

an unfortunate statistic.

what i learned —

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

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The Lost Boys

Tags

disease, doctor, health, hospital, illness, loneliness, medical, nurse, personal, philosophy, psychology

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I was a young boy with a withered leg,
abandoned, in a cold hospital bed.
Faceless attendants wore gloves, masks and gowns.
No parents for cuddles, kisses or love.

Alone were the Lost Boys with polio,
the silent, unpredictable killer.
Quarantined, isolated like lepers,
our only strength came from one another.

Expected to die, we boys joined forces.
We supported each other, forming a bond.
After lights were turned out we would whisper
together, “Shush, the Sisters are coming.”

Older patients had access to wheelchairs.
Sometimes they’d transport me to other wards —
to meet other boys was high adventure.
An empty bed usually meant a death.

Six decades since, in the still of the night,
after lights are out, I can sometimes hear
that haunting refrain I heard as a child,
whispered, “Shush, the Sisters are coming.”

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Note: Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century. By 1910, much of the world experienced a dramatic increase in polio cases and frequent epidemics became regular events, primarily in cities during the summer months which left thousands of children and adults paralyzed. The first polio vaccine was developed in 1952 by Jonas Salk and announced to the world on April 12, 1955 – Source: Wikipedia.

Image: http://www.immunize.org/photos/polio-photos.asp

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