I am now 26 days post surgery and it is an experience I am grateful for, and an experience I never want to go through again. I have always had a certain opinion of our healthcare system. But I have seen both sides now, I have been on the icy exterior of it, as well as the warm interior. I use to say "you get what you pay for" with our healthcare and because of ohip we pay little to none ergo.... But I would like to formally retract that statement.
For myself, I have been reasonably healthy. Yes I've had multiple injuries but ones that never required serious medical attention (side note: I am quite superstitious about this so I shall be saying 'knock wood' after every statement I make like this, or KW to be short). So thankfully the only piece of the healthcare system I was exposed to were the wait lists and misdiagnosis. I've been used to countlessly waiting for an MRI for at least 6 months or waiting a full year to see a specialist after finally getting clearance to see him. I understand the demand of our healthcare system, but I also know that if I was able to drop a couple grand I could have gotten an MRI in Buffalo that afternoon. Needless to say, living with chronic injuries and pain, it's hard being told time and time again to wait months and months for an answer or glimmer of hope.
But after all my waiting I was finally able to see the best knee surgeon in Canada - yes he was worth the wait. And badda-boom my surgery is booked....for 7 months down the line.
Now I have never needed surgery in my life (KW) so this was all very foreign to me, I still get anxious when I think back to the day. But this is where my story takes a turn. This is where I finally got to see inside our elusive healthcare system I had only heard stories about; this is where everything changed.
The entire staff that I dealt with from start to finish were incredible. They were attentive and calm which was important for someone who was about to go into surgery. Even when I was waking up from the anesthetic, what is the first thing I hear? The nurse telling me I have nice eyes. The nurses never left my side and always made sure I was comfortable. When I was finally in my room for the night and next day I was introduced to my nurse who would be mine and only mine. She was fantastic, we were able to joke around (once I could see straight) and she always made me feel secure as if nothing could go wrong. This nurse had such an impact on me that once I was home in my own bed I wrote her a letter (yes snail mail still exists) thanking her for her dedication and treatment. Nursing is such an amazing, thankless job and that saddens me.
It saddens me even more that I ever doubted our system. These people come into work day in and day out and save lives without so much as a thank you.
Our system is one thing, but the people in it are another and I am so grateful for the ones that crossed my path that day. I am grateful that they still show up with a positive attitude after a rough shift or a rude patient and making a difference, whether they think so or not.
So whether you're a doctor, surgeon, nurse, scrub nurse or orderly- thank you for what you do. It's because of you that faith can be restored into our healthcare system.
Scrub on!
Brianna
