I’ve learned a lot this year.. I learned that things don’t always turn out the way you planned, or the way you think they should. And I’ve learned that there are things that go wrong that don’t always get fixed or get put back together the way they were before. I’ve learned that some broken things stay broken, and I’ve learned that you can get through bad times and keep looking for better ones, as long as you have people who love you.
”— Jennifer WeinerI have a long withstanding fear for hospitals. But recently I've braved my fears and submitted myself to a series of medical tests. I was clearly left with no choice, you know they say, "the older we get, the more we need to focus attention on our health."
It ended up to the realization that this hospital fear came to be a little manageable...only until the incident of my brother, wherein the sight of his blood squirting in every direction almost made me lose whatever life source I was holding onto. It was so traumatic, it made me promise not to go back to the hospital anytime soon. Unfortunately my brother needed to go back and have someone get his stitches. But this time, I was more than happy that this trip was anything but bloody.
Besides pain and blood you know what other fear hospitals induced me with? It's the monstrous BILL! Yes, everytime I go out of the hospital, I always end up having a "medical hold-up".
On the day of my brother's incident, after the x-rays, the suture and other different tests. The doctor said we were free to go, so I headed to the cashier to pay. But when my brother tried to stand up, he almost fainted, so he was again rushed back in and they had him dextrosed.
Cashier: Mam, what happened? I thought the patient was free to go?
Janiz: Yes he was, but then when he tried to stand up, he almost fainted so he was rushed back in.
Cashier: Oh, why?
Janiz: I'm not sure.
Cashier: Was it because of the bill? *chuckles*
Janiz: Probably! LOL
Cashier: Now that he's back in, the bill will definitely increase.
Janiz:Don't surprise me too much with numbers, I might be the next patient. LOL
Cashier: LOL I'm sure you will be mam.
When the doctors said for the the second time that he was free to go. I told my brother he can't make his fainting act this time because I cannot afford to pay for it anymore. I swear, even if he had one good reason to stay, I would wheel him out of the ER or if I'd have to carry him home myself, I would! So now I'd have to settle our enormous bill...
Cashier: You're back. So is the patient heading home for sure?
Janiz: Most definitely yes.
Cashier: Let me check you bill mam.
Janiz: Ok, just don't make me a heart patient after seeing that piece of paper.
Cashier: I won't give you a heart attack mam, but you will probably faint.
Janiz: Is it a 4 or a 5 digit?
Cashier: It's a 5.
We were there for just a few hours and our bill ended up in 5 digits! Daym! What more if my brother was admitted for a day or two? It made me wonder if medical institutions are there to keep you alive, or help you die? No hospital trips anytime soon OK?
I'm Janiz Anne Jardiolin-Lo. Eccentric. Mother/Wife and everything in between. Swimmer. Entrepreneur. Optimist. Art enthusiast. Philomath and Philanthropist wannabe. I have a love-hate relationship with the world.
