When learning of Nancy’s hospital stay, one of her e-mail correspondents sent a version of the alphabet such as has been used to help children remember. Such as, A is for apple, and B is for boat. This one is for seniors and begins – A is for arthritis; B for bad back.
Find it here: http://wwwwj.net/joke02/j063.html
At the end are two extra lines:
I’ve survived all the symptoms, my body’s deployed,
And I’m keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed !
I thought of this today when Nancy and I were visiting with the cardiologist in the ICU for the day. He mentioned that later today Nancy would be visited by a hematologist. Someone could put together a list of all the specialties and post it beside Nancy’s bed for the doctors to place a check on when they visit. With the rotation of folks through the last two weeks she has been seen by many doctors, but most have been cardio-types.
So why the hematologist? Apparently the chemical of choice to prevent clotting during open-heart surgery is heparin. Nancy has developed an allergic reaction to this resulting in the degradation of blood platelets – which corrects itself when the drug is withdrawn. There are substitutes for heparin including one derived from the saliva of leeches. Synthetic versions have been developed insofar as leech saliva is not abundant. I had to leave before the doctor arrived and I don’t think she was going to do much today but believe this will lead to analysis of Nancy’s blood chemistry to advise the growing team planning her surgery.
A is for anticoagulant;
B is for blood
C is for ………………
Oh, Nancy slept well last night and felt better today. Her voice is returning.