This last visit to the hospital started out with a scheduled check in a few days prior to my procedure, a hybrid VT ablation to try and get my irregular heart beats under control. The plan was to stop taking my anti-arrhythmia medications so that the effects are out of my system by the time the doctor performs the ablation and it would be easier to locate the problem areas in my heart. While off my meds I would be monitored in the hospital to make sure everything was ok (meaning my heart didn’t stop beating) until my procedure. I was able to spend the morning at home with my family while I waited for the hospital to call me once a room was available. This definitely beats the alternative of waiting in the ER for an undetermined amount of time (like I have done many, many times prior). So when I got the call, my wife and I headed across the bridge into the city and my journey began.
When I arrived and got settled into my room the nurse brought in an ultrasound machine to aid in the placement of the I.V., I’ve never had that done before, usually someone just sticks me with a needle (and hope for the best?). I’ve had issues in the past with unsuccessful I.V.s – needles going completely through the vessel and getting irritated – so I when I saw this fancy setup I figured I got a better chance of it going smoothly (spoiler, it still got infiltrated and painful), but it was still pretty cool to see my blood vessels (the two dark circles on the image to the left) and the needle on the little screen. After they got the I.V. in me they hooked me up to their monitors and started me on a lidocaine drip and all that was left for me to do was wait.
Prior to the procedure I was pretty independent, I didn’t really need any medical attention, I was only there to be monitored while they ween me off my anti-arrhythmia medications, the most I ever really needed was a refill of water and an endless supply of Jell-O and pudding. I knew the hardest part of my hospital stay was going to be passing the time. I had brought my books, laptop music and of course camera to keep me busy.
Even though I had brought things with me, I still would get antsy and need to do something to stimulate my mind, I would take walks to enjoy the artwork on display, and create little scenes with my vinyl figurine.
It has been a while since I’ve done macro photography and I forgot about the amount of light you need. Luckily I had all the time to experiment and practice, and by the second day I was able to figure out where and when the lighting would be good.
I spent the mornings having breakfast by the window and looking out at Carl, the morning fog. It was nice just sitting and watching the fog clear and waiting for the light to become right.
Once the fog had cleared, the view of the city was beautiful, and the ends of the halls had little sitting areas that I could use to setup some shots for S.C.o.D.
In my previous life I was a structural engineer, and coincidentally the first big project I worked on when I moved up here was the design of this hospital. I was geeking out about all the little details that I remember designing, and trying to remember what the construction drawings looked like. I’m probably the only patient that was wowed by the handicap grab bar, which I now needed.
I’ve been in the hospital so many times by now, it’s gotten routine. But this time I was intentionally slowing down, taking the time and effort to observe and appreciate all the little things, finding the little bits of happiness in what’s available to me at the moment.
Photography by Rex 