Week 9 -- Theme -- Linked Vignettes

Middle-aged, six foot tall, handsome, strapping guy. Playing a friendly game of basketball with some friends. Laughing, joking and raising a little hell. Running up and down the court. Shooting basket after basket. Ball in court, ball out of bounds. Foul but not really counted, not a formal game.

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Oh, my leg hurts, guess I had better take a break. Leg swelling, pain getting stronger. Game stops as things are going from bad to worse. No feeling in the left leg. Sneaker taken off and the foot is white. "Taking you to the hospital", says one of the guys. 

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Emergency room, nurses, doctors, lab techs in and out. Picking and poking, looking, talking. Things aren't looking good. Wife and parents appear. Talk the doctor. Needs surgery right away. Needs to be life flighted. "Which direction are we going to go?" It could be either Bangor or Portland. Seems that the window of time is growing short Bangor is decided on as it is only 18minutes away. Closed compartment syndrome is the verdict. No blood flow to the left leg.

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Life flight arrives, EMT,s and nurses moving very swiftly to get him to the helicopter. Stress and concern on the faces of the loved ones. EMT says, "Do you have a cell phone, give us your number. We will call you once we are there and he is settled." And off they swoop him and they are gone.

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Bangor very quickly. Into emergency surgery. three blood clots removed. Eight inch cut to the side of the calf, swollen so bad needs to be left open. Tests, tests and more tests to be run. Pain, pain and more pain to endure. Waiting and waiting for the outcome of the tests. Worry and wonder, time goes by, day one, day two, and then the news. Blindsided, shocking news you have a tumor in the upper aorta of the heart. WOW!!!!!! where did that come from. Never expected to hear that. "I hate to tell you but, you are off to open heart surgery." the doctor says.