Dear Neo:
The post to which I respond speaks of JLA and me being at the hospital today, and of the probabilities of 'more information' resulting from one of both of these visits.
It had better come fro jla, as mine ran into a brick wall. A very brief contact with a doctor that included my mentioning having spoken with Dr. Gulati during the night turned into an immediately slammed door - on any and every thing.
Some observations:
1. This seems like a pretty sleek hospital. It is a Teaching Hospital. It is a City Hospital. It is located in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. Is clean, orderly, modern, very efficient in overall impression.
2. I walked in the main entrance and asked the guard for IC. He gave instructions. On reaching the floor, an orderly of some sort asked who I was looking for. On being told, she led me to the door of Edwarda's room - and I went in, and the orderly closed the door. (I could have been an axe murderer, for god's sake!)
3. Edwarda is in a good-sized private room, probably quite as large as my tiny studio/cabin. It is airy, well lighted, most pleasant.
4. She looks absolutely beautiful. Her blond hair halo-ing her head on the pillow. Her breathing deep and regular. (She is on a ventilator, doing her own breathing with borrowed air.) And there are a half-dozen or more tubes, needles, iv things connected to her head and arms. Many electronic devices are printing out the status of her vital signs. I had expected to see a haggard shell. Instead, here was this lovely lady asleep in the company of many medical devices. She slightly moved her head several times. It was ultimately peaceful.
5. After a while, a person (who does not choose to be identified) entered the room. A life-long friend who had flown in from another city. The love of Edwarda is not confined to SI alone. It seems a general aspect of her existence.
6. The friend and I were thirsting for even a hint about her condition, prognosis or whatever. But, axe murderers both, we hit the brick wall.
7. In the conversation, it appeared that [name deleted], Edwarda's cousin from Woodside, Queens, is a close and dear friend of Edwarda's. She, Edwarda, had mentioned once to me that we could enjoy dinner with a friend of hers in Woodside. I have no idea if [name deleted] is visiting. But, I do know that the hospital has her name as a blood relative.
8. It also turned up that the fund-beneficiary sister, Claudia, and Edwarda have been quite ardently at arms length for many years. Seriously, not slightly. (To me this is consistent with Claudia's having told one of you that, without money, she couldn't make it up to New York.)
9. Both [name deleted] and Claudia are in the loop with the info system. They, either/or, are the sources of news. (I would push for [name deleted], but what-the-hell.)
10. Sometime between 1:30 and 2:00, they rolled in the dialysis equipment. A two-and-a-half hour session was about to begin. The doctor treated life-long friend and me dismissively. An aide, on being questioned, said that the procedure was not a regular one; that Edwarda's kidneys were not doing their job; and that her blood had to be scrubbed.
11. I did not ask the doctors (there were ocassional groups of them pacing around, this being a Teaching Hospital) about some of the various maladies you people have conjured up. This, frankly, not simply because of the brick wall, but, also, because of the impertinence of the question. Good God! This is a Big Deal, Live and Functioning Medical Institution we are dealing with. Not a dart board upon which Diseases of the Day are scribbled.
12. I do not understand this thread at all. In one note, E speaks of my absurd self-righteousness and, a cpla notes latter posts me a sweetness and light benediction. I do not understand Terry's insistence on winning first place in Name The Disease. I do not understand the flock-like cuddling around Claudia. Seeing this life-friend's deep concern, love, respect, all that stuff directed straight-on at Edwarda, and seeing some of the enterprises that have arisen around the matter on the thread is seeing two entirely different things.
13. And, by the blood of our immortal savior, I only apply the above limitations to a small segment of the thread. There is very much truth and sincerity that I overlook, or ignore, when donning my self-righteous garb.
Finis: I would like to leave a single warm impression. In most admirable medical surroundings, Edwarda was a thing of beauty to behold. So, there!
George
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