And there I was...
I don't remember much over the next few days other than one unique situation, where anything that could possibly go wrong did...
I was scheduled to have an introductory appointment with the physical therapist, then the Occupational Therapist, and since I was completely paralyzed and numb on the right side of my body, the only way to transfer me anywhere, was to use a Hoyer Lift. I was lucky enough that my room had a Hoyer and track system in the room. I was strapped into the sling and moved to a wheelchair. Upon returning The Nurse, CNA, and Occupational therapist hooked my harness back to the Hoyer to move me back to my bed. Then things quickly spiralled down the drain...
As they attempted to lift me back to bed, each time they would lift me, the chair would come along. Somehow, the harness/sling got stuck on the wheel chair, so every time I was lifted. my chair was sure to go. After a few minutes of frustration and panic beginning to set in among the nursing team, More and more would be rescuers came to help. So let me paint you a disturbing image. I was in a hospital gown, paralyzed with my arms stuck up by my ears, knees stuck to my chest, because of the way the harness fit, dangling four feet off the ground spinning in a circle back and forth.
I was literally a naked disco ball for over 20 minutes.
By now the stress level in the room was escalating. One nurse ran off to find a slicker board; another ran off to get a scalpel and heavy duty scissors, (I don't exactly know what her plan with those would be, since I out weighed all of them by 100 pounds easily. And the fact I was still very, very numb and half dead). The best part of this was my poor wife and mom in the corner of the room, snickering and giggling the entire time. I was finally rescued from my predicament, and was reassured that had never happened before, and would never happen again. I can only imagine the concerns of complaints and explaining they all dreaded was headed their way. Now jump ahead 24 hours and guess what... Nate the Naked Disco Ball Part II, the good thing this time around the nurses were aware of the sling and wheelchair fiasco, so I was rescued rather quickly.
I share this story not to embarrass myself or the awesome medical staff that endured my torture. But to help find humor, even in the most precarious situations. There is always room for a good laugh. I truly believe some of the best medicine available is a good friend and a good laugh.
Thanks for following along, keep sharing and posting.
- Nate Taylor
I was scheduled to have an introductory appointment with the physical therapist, then the Occupational Therapist, and since I was completely paralyzed and numb on the right side of my body, the only way to transfer me anywhere, was to use a Hoyer Lift. I was lucky enough that my room had a Hoyer and track system in the room. I was strapped into the sling and moved to a wheelchair. Upon returning The Nurse, CNA, and Occupational therapist hooked my harness back to the Hoyer to move me back to my bed. Then things quickly spiralled down the drain...
As they attempted to lift me back to bed, each time they would lift me, the chair would come along. Somehow, the harness/sling got stuck on the wheel chair, so every time I was lifted. my chair was sure to go. After a few minutes of frustration and panic beginning to set in among the nursing team, More and more would be rescuers came to help. So let me paint you a disturbing image. I was in a hospital gown, paralyzed with my arms stuck up by my ears, knees stuck to my chest, because of the way the harness fit, dangling four feet off the ground spinning in a circle back and forth.
I was literally a naked disco ball for over 20 minutes.
By now the stress level in the room was escalating. One nurse ran off to find a slicker board; another ran off to get a scalpel and heavy duty scissors, (I don't exactly know what her plan with those would be, since I out weighed all of them by 100 pounds easily. And the fact I was still very, very numb and half dead). The best part of this was my poor wife and mom in the corner of the room, snickering and giggling the entire time. I was finally rescued from my predicament, and was reassured that had never happened before, and would never happen again. I can only imagine the concerns of complaints and explaining they all dreaded was headed their way. Now jump ahead 24 hours and guess what... Nate the Naked Disco Ball Part II, the good thing this time around the nurses were aware of the sling and wheelchair fiasco, so I was rescued rather quickly.
I share this story not to embarrass myself or the awesome medical staff that endured my torture. But to help find humor, even in the most precarious situations. There is always room for a good laugh. I truly believe some of the best medicine available is a good friend and a good laugh.
Thanks for following along, keep sharing and posting.
- Nate Taylor
Yes! Laughing is so necessary! That sounds like a pretty hilarious situation... apparently for at least your wife! I used to joke about cancer stuff to make it bearable, but my parents didn’t want me to joke. But I needed to. Or I’d explode! So glad you can see the humor!
ReplyDeleteFor the few that were sorry enough to witness, including the therapist and several of the nurses, it became an ongoing joke, and was usually timed perfectly, when I was feeling down or frustrated. They would threaten to go get the Hoyer Lift.
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