A family is gathered in a hospital emergency room around the bed of a 50-year old man who is suffering with chest pain. Medical equipment squeaks, beeps and throbs in the background. The man is in good spirits but occasionally grows quiet when the pain worsens.
The man’s family – two sons, one daughter-in-law and his wife – are trying to distract him during the long, nerve-wracking wait for test results.
The teenage son deciphers the many readings on the monitor tracking the man’s vital signs. “Look. When dad takes a deep breath his oxygen levels go up. Go on dad – take a deep breath. *pause* See! The line goes up.”
The oldest son (married): “And look at his blood pressure. That’s a good indication of his pain. It’s normal at this moment, but when his chest hurts his BP goes up.”
Daughter-in-law: “Yeah. And have you noticed that his pulse rate goes up every time your mom speaks?”
Mom: “What? It does not—”
She is interrupted by a chorus of amazed voices as the man’s pulse goes up.
Mom: “That’s not funny–”
Again, she is interrupted as his pulse rises.
Mom: “Now cut that out–”
His pulse jumps again.
Oldest son shakes his head: “If this becomes a matter of life or death we may have to ask her to leave.”
Mom: “That’s it. I’m not saying another wo–”
The others, including the man, burst into laughter as his pulse leaps.
Curtain closes.
This reminds me of an episode of ..... *pauses; muses; snaps fingers* Mad About You. They were fretting because Paul's father was hospitalized for a suspected heart attack and his pulse went up every time the mother was in the room, with the assumption that it was out of stress. Instead, it turned out it was his love for her that was making his heart beat more quickly. :^)
ReplyDeleteThese are so wonderful, Deb!!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember this one. Great but it must have been painful.
ReplyDelete