Mary, Mary

I had several roommates during my hospital stays that made an impact on me.  I've remained friends with a few.  Mary was unforgetable.  I don't know what her illness was, but she had a catheter bag that always seemed to be in my line of vision, and filled constantly with blood.  I'd lay there while I was fighting my own demons and watch the bag fill with blood.  Sometimes it got too full and the clip couldn't hold it.  When it fell I'd call the nurses.  It seemed the blood they kept giving her was going into her arm and out into the catheter bag.  

Mary's story broke my heart.  She'd been in the hospital for months waiting for surgery.  She was constantly on the alternate list for cancellations in the operating room.  One day she said, "They keep me on the call waiting list, but when do I get to be the patient instead of a number.  When do I become a priority instead of an overload?"  One day, I called the nurse because I thought she was in trouble.  They did a lot of stuff and a lot of nurses and doctors came.  In the end, they rolled her out and told me she was going to surgery.  I secretly suspected she died.

Later that evening, they brought a gurney with someone on it.  I didn't have my glasses on, but it appeared to be the general size, shape, and the same gray hair as Mary.  I called out, "Mary is that you?"  "Yes," she replied. They hurried her into the room and pulled the curtain to settle her in.

I was unbelievably relieved!  I really thought she died.  Our conversation through the curtain went like this:

Me:  Mary, I'm so happy to see you here.

Mary:  You are?

Me:  Yes! I was so worried about you!  I prayed for you!

Mary:  Why?

Me:  You weren't doing very well when they took you to surgery!  I'm so glad you made it ok!

Mary:  I already had surgery?

Me:  (Thinking the drugs were making her fuzzy) Yes, Mary.  They just brought you back.

Mary:  How long have I been here?  I thought I just got here!

Me:  No, Mary.  You told me you've been here for months waiting for surgery!

Mary:  (Starting to panic) Oh, my God!  I've got to call my husband.  I had no idea!  I thought I just came in on the ambulance.  I've been here for months and don't remember it?  Oh, my God!  I knew I was sick, but not this sick.

Me:  You're Mary, right?

Mary:  Yes, I'm Mary.

Me:  You're Mary XXXX (last name inserted)

Mary:  NO!  I'm Mary YYYY (last name inserted)

Me:  Suddenly horrified that I'd just scared the wrong Mary to death and questioned her sanity, when I was the one messed up!

What are the odds  the new Mary was so very similar in size and age to the first Mary - even her voice? We did become friends.  She didn't hold our initial meeting against me.  However, the nurses looked at me a little too intently for a while.  I think they suspected I was starting another bout with delirium.