All Things Together

The drive to Community General took forever, mainly because she was still unsure if she should go forward, or turn around and go home.  She wanted to go home.  She REALLY didn’t want to do this.  It was difficult enough to make her weekly pilgrimage to pick up her prescriptions.  The ‘odor’ of the corridors in the hospital alone was enough to fill her with such longing and desire to take her place back along side some gifted surgeon, helping to heal a human life. Anytime she went into a hospital, any hospital she would begin conversations with anyone dressed in surgical uniforms.  Asking them if they worked in the operating room, if they liked it, how long they had worked there, all sorts of questions about new procedures and new instruments.  She felt reassured just talking about it.   She prayed for God to give her the strength to do what she must do today.  If not for her, for Lisa and the rest of the ‘rash-rats.’

She had reached the parking lot, now, to get out of the car.  She sat there a few minutes and composed herself.  Looking around at the familiar vehicles of friends and co-workers she knew. Trying to make up her mind if she should go in, or just sit there for the rest of the day.  She opened the car door, knees weak, and walked inside.

Wayne and Dr. Brady were waiting on her as they sipped a cup of coffee.

“Jenny, this is Dr. Charles Brady.”  Wayne introduced them.  “He is the Toxicologist from San Diego, California that I spoke to you about earlier.”

“Pleased to meet you Sir.”  Jenny extended her hand.

“Call me Chuck, and the pleasure is mine Jenny.  I only wish they had been under different circumstances.”  He replied. Turning to Wayne he asked him. “Is there a place we can go where I might be able to talk to and examine Jenny?  We only need a bit of privacy, no exam room is necessary.”

“Guess we better ask Jenny that, she is the tour guide.”  Wayne replied as he gave Jenny a questioning glance.

“Simply questions?”  She asked.

“Simply questions, Jenny, it won’t take long.”  He smiled.

“There is a chapel down the corridor.  Usually no one is in there, especially this time of day.”  She replied.

“Fine with me, as long as you are comfortable with it.” He replied.

If only he knew how many hours Jenny had knelt in front of the alter in this chapel on her lunch breaks, trying to understand and make some sense out of all that had been happening to her.  It was a beautiful chapel, soft lighting and even toned colors made you feel at ease.  Most of the time that is.  Today, she didn’t feel comfortable at all, and it wasn’t Dr. Brady making her feel that way, it was being in a ‘chapel’, any chapel.

Jenny directed him to a bench next to the altar.  Wayne sat across from them.  Dr. Brady sat next to Jenny on the bench. He began to ask her questions.

“I want you to tell me in your own words Jenny, how did this happen?  This chemical exposure.”  He had a soft, enticing voice.  She felt comfortable with him the minute she met him.

“The residue of the chemicals, Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Chlorhydren, were in the cuffs of the gowns that came pre-packed in our Custom Hip Packs and Custom Arthroscopy packs.  What it boils down to is, when the gowns were shipped from “the company”, the cuffs of the gowns had a high chemical residue.  Much higher than the government and OSHA safety standards allow.  I wore the gowns, my arms broke out, my health deteriorated, I’m on total disability.”