Back in the saddle
Returning home from Christmas in the Midwest, we received an urgent call (in the car) for medical advice. A distant cousin had had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. First the local ER and then a transfer to the University for tertiary care followed. No names please. I got a disjointed story. It was a stroke, then a bleed, then…. I was able to figure out it was probably an aneurysm. Stroke: sudden catastrophic event in the brain – yes, technically so. But, this was treatable. Angiogram – ultimately, three lesions – two aneurysms, one AVM (arterio-venous malformation). The same conundrum – which one bled? Ultimately, all three were treated, although it took three sittings – two operations within a week. Cured! A happy ending. We like that. And a very happy new year was had by all. Me? I helped interpret the medical terminology along the way. Solving the case with limited information was as good as a Sherlock Holmes mystery. For a while it was like playing “telephone” in elementary school once again. Miss it? Nah! I been there. The fascination was in solving the decision making tree to the benefit of the patient. Flowers? A sign of “get well, soon!” And, I especially like happy endings.
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