Monday, July 1, 2013

Gratitude Monday -- Grateful I Live Here

I am a happy proud Canadian. Always have been. I am grateful I live here.
Right now I am grateful for where I live plus many other things because I had hernia repair surgery a few days ago.
Said problem was discovered in April, diagnosed in May, and gotten shed of in June. That's fast for our health care system.
There was a redundancy protocol in place wherein almost everyone I spoke to from the day surgery room nurse to the anesthetist, the OR nurse, and the surgeon confirmed who I was, what I had, what was being done, and what part of my body it was being done to. It's the kind of thing I can see some patients losing patience with.
No this one.
I am happy each practitioner took the time and trouble to follow the rules and check.
Because of my heart condition I had spinal anesthetic and was advised of this in a meeting with one of the doctors ten days prior to surgery.
I was told what to expect so I could prepare for it, and I researched it, too, as I had an unreasonable fear of it. I said so on the table and was reassured again.
I am grateful for all of this plus the surgery went well.
I hurt, but it's a proper hurt and I am grateful for it because it means the matter was taken care of.
I am grateful it was in Canada because we can be assured the practitioners are properly trained, the OR is properly kitted out, the place is properly clean, and everyone involved cares enough to not want any mistakes.
And, yes, I am grateful because I am Canadian and I don't have to pay for medically necessary procedures out of my own pocket.

Happy Birthday, Canada.
I'll hoist a glass in your honour as soon as the antibiotics are out of my system.

15 comments:

Tabor said...

Good health care...a right or a privilege? Those of us South of the Border envy a good socialized medical care system...although some of us fear it.

Leah J. Utas said...

Good question, Tabor. I'd go with right, but our style of health care is a privilege.

It really is nothing to fear.

the Bag Lady said...

I'm glad that you were able to have the hernia taken care of so quickly! And I hope you heal up and feel better very soon.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Bag Lady. It's healing well, I think.

Crabby McSlacker said...

Canada is so much more sensible about priorities than the U.S.!

Sorry you had to undergo surgery, but it's great that you have the sense of perspective to be grateful rather than grumpy and see the positives. (Some of us are still working on that ability...)

Chris said...

This is one of the big ones.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Crabby. I believe health and healing depends greatly on perspective.

Leah J. Utas said...

Chris, aye.

messymimi said...

And i'm grateful you are recovering and will be here to get those books published someday.

Happy Canada Day!

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you and your belief in me, Messymimi.

solarity said...

Happy Hernia Day! Now you'll be able to officially celebrate it every year.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

David Cranmer said...

A nice post, Leah. A country can be made up of so many positives and, yet, we dwell on the negatives most of the time.

Leah J. Utas said...

Hernia Day! Brilliant. Thanks, Mary Anne. I shall do it every year.

David, dwelling on the negatives invites more negatives. I will not live like that.

Hilary said...

I'm glad all went well, Leah. And I share your gratitude for how our system functions.

I had my mammogram a week or so ago. I didn't have a requisition because it was just an appointment made for my regular yearly screening, so I went through a similar double checking of name and intended procedure.

I joked around with the young guy in admissions as he asked for details and then asked me to check the info on the bracelet he just gave me. "You figure someone is just waiting in the wings to steal my mammogram spot?"

He smiled and replied with "Oh yes.. we have women here waiting to ambush you as we speak!"

So I had no choice but to say that it must be a booby trap.

He was still snorting as I entered the squisher room.

Leah J. Utas said...

Ha!. Booby trap. You are good.
Hope all is well, mammo-wise.