I was back at work again. So many things are on backorder. Our eighteen gauge needles are out, and this and the syringes are some of our workhorses. A sixteen gauge needle actually takes pressure off my hands when I draw up the medicines, it's a little bigger. But all of them are out, and the 'you can't stab yourself' kind are all that's left. The plastic addition to the needle affects the balance in the hand, and the work is even more challenging. I dropped several things yesterday because of this.
Our 'prep' solutions and sticks are backordered. Chloroprep. For a block yesterday I watched a colleague use alcohol swabs to prepare. I've been told others use the skin-safe wipes from the dispenser.
Backorders have been part of my career since the late 2000's. Before then it was unthinkable.
Ironically, many times before a new drug comes out, it's cheaper alternative goes on backorder. Most people don't think of why but I often make the connection.
During Covid the Glide Scope 4 blades were backordered, which makes sense because it's a favorite size and means to intubate someone. It's back fortunately now.
Speaking of Covid, I ate lunch yesterday (I know, surprise, right?) with a surgeon whose brother died from it, and a pediatrician. Both men were of Latin heritage. Apparently in South America (under the equator, where it's winter, and around the equator too) there's lots and lots of deaths. The healthcare isn't like ours. A big university hospital only has like, six ICU beds, that's it. The pediatrician asked me if my son was, um, you know what? The answer is no. It's because of me, and my autoimmune (one involved clotting easily, I need to take aspirin, and I do every day). I would clot like crazy. And I'll watch others to wait and see for enough like us...
He told me the myocarditis is 'transient'...and he's a big believer in that whole type of therapeutics...but he admitted it's a 'hard sell'. I told him I heard of a boy who was previously healthy who died three days after dose two. He's never heard of it.
All three of us believe another wave is coming. Because it's a winter virus and that's what winter viruses do. You get a break in the summer. He would know those well, the children get all kinds of seasonal illnesses, and he's spent his whole career on it.
The learning points here are 1) if you study Spanish Flu wave three was the biggest and most lethal. That's not to say it is and not to say it isn't. 2) It is possible to disagree and be civil in the most delicate of medical settings. Note how my knowledge of how the world is really ran never entered into the conversation. 3) for any situations, spread out the information like a tapestry before you. Look for what is highlighted (what they tell you), add to it what you know from your looking things up, and after that, focus on the shadowy gaps and things that simply don't connect up or support the other things. A prime example would be therapeutics/cures/treatments/prevention in my last conversation. Gaps--areas where the truth is hidden--are often our best insights to what is true. Censorship topics would also be similar guides to what is true.
I worked long and hard yesterday. I got home after nine thirty p.m.
But I brought my best self to each case, to each patient, and each team of surgeons and techs and nurses.
Even the last one, where the surgeon was upset to be missing bedtime with her two daughters, I was able to recall our five top favorite books, and to share them with her for her older daughter who absolutely adores reading and bedtime.
Here they are--they make great gifts:
- Yummy Yucky by Leslie Petricelli. All of her books are delightful.
- Goodnight Gorilla
- Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock
- Quack Quack Moo
- The Huntersman and the Crocodile, a West African Tale
You give each character a voice, it's own voice and you use it every time, and the children love it. Anansi was my favorite character to bring to life. He's a sneaky spider, and you can hiss a little as he tries to trick all the other animals.
Trust in God.
Trust in Divine Creator.
The opposing forces are sending out energy to make all of us scatter. The energy isn't there yet for us to cohesively unite.
But think of it as being little cylinders of energy anchored in to the Earth wherever you are, your feet being the point of contact. I saw a vision where each of us are like platinum metal--we won't react with anything--and we are solid and strong and this thick syrupy like energy is flowing and flowing past us, trying to knock us over but we are so strongly connected to Source and Home it simply can't.
That's how we win.
Behind the information wars, are the energy wars and the spiritual wars.
I believe the vision was a gifts and we are going to be closer and closer to the eventual victory.
Ross
Carla had her meals yesterday. She was busy taking care of her animals and was almost late. I promised her I could get her to the hospital in ten minutes, and sure enough, she did get there just in time.
Meals make a big difference in her stamina.
With a proper lunch (it was interrupted by a nurse calling about a patient's blood sugar) and a proper dinner (it was cut short by a colleague asking for a favor)...she was able to do everything she was asked to do. This wasn't an 'I'm in a hurry I better feed myself so as not to starve', it was proper sit down with your tray and eat kind of meals.
Carla noticed a big change at the cafeteria. They outsourced their sandwiches, and many cups of fruit were replaced with machine-made canned fruit in little cups. She worried for her chef, her friend, as the food was simply terrible. Hopefully he was only on vacation and not permanently gone. The same three choices from lunch were in the steam trays all day and available at dinner. Blackened chicken breast. Fake chicken asian stir fry in too much sauce. Funny colored, overcooked broccoli beef in too much asian sauce. Tasteless rice. Tasteless mashed potatoes. Tasteless string beans and tasteless corn.
Even for this, she was grateful.
I want you to work on your gratitude. For the small things. Even if they could be optimal...still give thanks.
Carla had a very big intubation, and once she got it, she thanked me for it openly, just in the same way she gives grace over her meals. The nurse chimed in with 'sweet baby Jesus' and 'Jesus, Mary Joseph'.
Spontaneous moments of gratitude such as this are key and VITAL to our eventual success on the battlefield.
And the moment is bright for our team when it shall win!
Walk forward to it, giving thanks and praise without ceasing, the whole time.
clap! clap!
Aloha and Mashed Potatoes (just kidding)--Mahalos,
Namaste,
Peace,(whirled peas...he giggles)
Ross and Carla
Your continual friends in fellowship
