All the People I Met

 I saw more medical related professionals in one week than I normally see all year.

Tired looking ladies behind the glass in the waiting room. Bored. Handing me a clip board.

Gentle, soft spoken x-ray guys who wear scrubs and work all day in a windowless room photographing broken bones.

Nurse Practitioners with warm eyes who explain in simple language that surgery is necessary.

Ortho-pedic surgeon, whose name is comprised of two cities. One in Nevada and one in Alaska. His ruddy cheeks tempt me to ask him if his mama knew where he was. He sits on a low stool in front of me. His bent knees at my eye level. His gentle fingers and soft voice tell me how he will repair the knee cap. A tall young man whom I have just met will put a knife to my leg while I sleep through it. His ID dangled nonchalantly from his lanyard.

Nurse anesthetist, during pre-op who looks strangely familiar. This CRNA tells me the same words someone else has already told me. He tells me that since I am skinny they will only have to use a small needle. I like this guy. This young man loves his job. He shakes  my hand at the end of our conversation.

Long and tall lady with purple tulle draped all over her office. She interviews me during pre-admission. She is so interested in everything about me. She asks many questions about my parents even though I know she never met them.

Round nurse who helps process me through the system. She tells me that my orthopedic surgeon had worked on her sister's wrist last year when she fell. The round nurse nods her approval. This lowered my heart rate.

Wiry lady with lots of baseball paraphernalia in her office. She draws my blood and tells me about her foot surgery last year. She had to use a scooter for weeks. Here is someone who understands what it feels like to be the patient.

The slow moving and hard of hearing volunteer at the check-in desk. She smiles slightly and asks us to sign the clip board.

Pretty nurses wearing different colored scrubs prepares me for surgery. With a slightly distracted air about them they connect my finger to a monitor.

Anesthesiologist doctor lady. Small with a strong voice. She sits on a chair next to me. Her brown eyes focusing on mine.  She carefully explains everything young CRNA told me previously.

Surgery nurse wears her hair under a cap. Her eyes are lined in blue and she looks like she knows what she is doing. She looks like someone I would be chatting with over a cup of coffee.She wheels me into OR.