I know you all want to know. So here is a quick update. I got really, really sick. I really didn't like it. I went to ER. I spent a week in the hospital. First couple of days were pretty dark. I got better. I am home. Enough said. I don't want to burn time on it right now.

Except indirectly.

Labor Day in this country is a national holiday, meant to honor the workers. It is a day to play, to relax, to eat and to take it easy. Though it is meant to honor the worker, little thought is given to the worker because the worker is having fun. 

But not in every case. Emergency personnel, retailers, healthcare workers, farmers and such work. Some to give aid, some to chase the dollar, some because their work is never done. Having just spent the holiday in a hospital, I would like to share some observations.

I went in on Tuesday evening prior to the holiday. The hospital was buzzing with action. Doctors, nurses, techs, housekeeping, all busy with various tasks. By noon on Wednesday, I had seen four doctors, several techs, lots of nurses and others hustling around doing their jobs. I had a CAT scan, an X-ray and several visual examinations. Thursday brought more hustle and bustle. On Friday it began to slow down. Saturday was pretty quiet. Sunday there was very little being done. Monday was like a ghost town. Holiday weekend. Unofficial end of summer. We are conditioned to understand.

Don't misunderstand me. Everyone needs time away from work to refresh. But in this blog I want to talk about four people who impressed me. Who went to work and very likely saved lives.

I was in the same hospital four weeks ago. On Saturday, a young nurse entered my room. I wrote of Rosa a couple of weeks ago. Young woman going through a very hard time. On this Saturday, this young lady walked up to me and gave me a hug. I was in isolation, not even allowed in the halls. You had to gown up just to come in and scrub when you left. It was time consuming. But here was Rosa. "What are you doing here?" "I heard you were here and I wanted to say hi!" "I don't mean in this room. You should be off today." She became serious. "I have a patient in a bad way. I traded with someone so I could keep an eye on her." We talked for a bit more and then she went back to her patient. Why? She is a fine nurse, but her medical expertise probably wasn't going to keep that woman alive. But her presence, her depth of caring....maybe that would save a life.

On Thursday a man was brought in right across the hall from me. I don't know what his issue was, but he was sick. Vomiting every few minutes. Every moment a struggle. I so wanted to go pray with him, but I was in isolation, and I didn't have the strength anyway. Enter Kateland, another young lady from my being there a few weeks ago. Very young. A nursing student who was working as an aide to pay for it. Sweet as she could be. The gentleman across the hall was one of hers, as was I. Her schooling was to resume on Tuesday after the holiday and the hospital had given her the weekend off since she had just worked four 12 hour days in a row. But she had traded days so she could watch over this man and wife, who had never left his side. At one point I heard the man talking in a low voice to which Kateland replied, "No sir. Don't apologize. I'll get this cleaned up, but first I need to step outside for a minute." I heard the wife say in a gentle voice, "Go, little one." Kateland stepped outside the door and pulled it closed. She leaned there and cried, shoulders shaking. Then she stopped, wiped her eyes, put a smile on her face and walked back in. Finally, on Tuesday after the holiday, he was taken to surgery and began to improve. Kateland couldn't save the man, but maybe she kept him going until the 'real' professional returned.

Dr. Jeffrey Lupica. Very large private practice as well as being a top surgeon. When I met him a few weeks ago he struck me as arrogant and egotistical. My two follow up appointments didn't change my mind. On Monday, the holiday, I was sitting in my room trying to feel better. Dr. Lupica walked in. Wearing a suit like he was visiting patients this day. He had no connection to my case this time. "Hey, doc. What are you doing here?" "I saw something on your chart that didn't seem right and I just wanted to check it out." Now you might say he was just making a quick buck. But he was reading my chart in the early hours of a holiday without even knowing I was in the hospital. There was no money in that. Has he saved lives reading charts at 5:30 in the morning? I would bet he has.

And then there was Jennifer Boreland. Quick witted and funny as all get out. A nurse with 30 years experience. She didn't need to be there. She ran the floor. She could have been with the kids and grandkids. Yet, she pulled a week of 12 hour days so younger nurses with kids could have days off. Closer in age, she and I had some conversations. She didn't have to push herself so hard, so why? "I lost my marriage, so maybe I can help one of mine save theirs. After all, to me it's just another day. But to them, it could be everything." Jennifer probably didn't save any lives that week, but maybe she saved a marriage.

Even Jesus needed rest. But He would go off and pray. We might be more rested if we did that rather than play. Maybe we could help save souls and marriages.