They put her in a hospital bed
Just for observation
She stayed much longer than they said
an estimate inflation.
Her muscles shrank, her bones got thin
Joints got bent, delirium.
We tried to stand her up, she fell
Is this what they call getting well?
The weaker she was, the harder to move
The less she moved, the sicker she proved
She got bed sores, more spinal pain
No rehab in house, Medicare's shame.
Lack of walking caused constipation
Then urinary blockage, more complication
Dehydration followed, so saline was applied
But the catheter had germs, so she got a UTI.
Her legs so still, she got a clot
A cluster of disasters, who lost the plot?
Not all countries do it this way
incentives in the U.S. contribute to decay.
Then we pay for months of rehab care
cheaper per day, once you are there
But in the big picture it makes more sense
To prevent deterioration, before its immense.
The above patient is a composite of many poor souls
Usually there are confounds, the argument has holes
However, it's true that this happens and can't always be reversed
Let's address the incentives first.
A skid in the road
A violent left turn
A tragedy to behold
While my wheels burn
Glass everywhere
A cut in my lip
Drivers rubberneck the affair
And I broke my hip
Blood on the dashboard
Bruises on my head
A couple of broken teeth
Months of pharmacy meds
Tubes in my belly
A catheter down below
The wounds are a bit smelly
And they’re healing mighty slow
I learned to walk again
And I bought a new jeep
I would’ve never been a crash dummy
If the other driver didn’t fall asleep
Well here we see that something is hot? About as real as
As the (tailpipe an e v's got?) The subject matter is what
You have got.' Either man or woman? Is what i consider?
And whether what is not.' Is what? And why are some termed non binary? Yet are So
Het up on genders.? All in all its such a mind bender! its
Like they want to drink alchol.' Yet be de-intoxicated as they
Do?
Seem absorbed by genders.? That should not be narrated?
By me or you' or any reality defenders.)
Is there anything above?about them; i have missed ?
Maybe they could have a catheter bladder to head
Orifice inserted; so they could vent better ( when feeling
Really pressed.?)
Not quite twelve, and I needed a catheter
I had a bladder infection
What’s that? She told, and I laughed at her
The male nurse, she said, pretty rough
That didn’t sound good, on reflection
She said she could, good enough!
—————
H/T to The One for the Job by Becky Forbes
My mother
didn't have a word
or a tear
for defeat
but she hated
that uncomfortable catheter
with a vengeance
on those last
long days of her life.
I know My mother
When My mother grows old and very old,
That she cannot recognize who I am,
she does not need to know me then,
I am the one to know who she is to me Then
I am the one to know what she has been to me Then
I will carry her in my arms like she did to Me
I will sing her a song and keep her company
I will wash her, Pamper her
If need be I will fix her catheter
I will never be ashamed
I will neither get tired
I am the one to know Her
I will not compete with my siblings as to who should care for her
I will do my part, My best, it can be done
It will always be My turn
I will never complain
My duty will be my mother
My responsibility will be my blood
Whose tears I I swam in
Whose Blood I'm safe in
Whose hands I formed
I know my mother
She does not need to know me
When she is old and frail
I will never fail to sail in her life
No love will come first before her
No place will replace my mother's space
In my heart she will reign
whether sunshine or rain
Through tough times to the end times
I will always know my mother.
Every needle
Every stick
Every catheter
Every surgery
Watching my blood
For three hours
Run through a machine
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
It was my job 5am
3 hours
6 years experience
On my life resume
I have scars to show
Long memories
Never leave my mind
Testimonials to tell the masses
Giving up
Got tired
But on the wee hours
On April 14, 2009
Unexpected phone called
Life changing
I heard those sweets words
You are a match
Get to the hospital
You're getting a kidney transplant
I knew my God
Have a strong purpose
To be fulfilled
Paraplegic
Wheelchair, catheter
Racing, dancing, maneuvering
Colourful rims and frame, colourful little person,
Singing, rhyming, mischievous
Surgery, bedridden,
Me
***
6th place in Diamante contest
Sponsor Janis Thompson
October 15, 2016
The government and its people stay on antagonistic sides
but what stimulates the rulers’ infidelity to patriotism
can easily be bought by any, over the counter.
They are desperately in need
of sailors to guide through the storm
yet for some reasons,
nurture a belief of so called anointed but empty vessels.
Structural human developments
siphoned by leadership’s exhaust pipes,
desecrating humanity’s sanctuary
for corruption to sell in wholesale.
The public treasury flows down
non-stop even bypassing its bladder,
as materialism and the quest for good life
break all of conscience’s administrative protocols.
Survival instincts undergo inflation
for civilization to suffer a recession
to this end, unity’s objections are overruled
by Nepotism and favouritism.
Social growth is blocked
and always in need of foreign catheter.
A direct current links poverty to the mindset and way of life,
giving a clear evidence of an economy
in desperate need of reconstructive surgery.
Poet: Ken Jordan
Poem: Heart
edited by: Sparkle Jordan
written: June/2014
I've seen
my life
connection
to
the creator
of
my being -
I've seen
my
heart
in
real time -
my life
before me
on TV,
as I
lay flat
on
my back,
during
an
Angiogram -
They
probed
a small
catheter
like
(camera )
from
my groin
to
my heart -
I
saw
my heart
on
a big screen
monitor
beating
before my
eyes,
in
real time -
I saw
the living
connection
that I
have to
God -
Ain't
a word
in the
dictionary,
can
describe
what my
eyes
have seen -
Therefore,
In my
world -
there ain't
no shallow,
don't mean it,
something
to say
conversations -
like:
"You think it's gonna
rain?"
"It sho is hot outside."
Or
"Look! The sky is blue."
..... Please!
be for real -
no
phony,
plastic
conversations -
When you've
walked
in the valley
of the
real world,
then you'll
know
where I've
been -
I've seen
my
heart
in
real time -
i killed myself
and got an eviction notice
he stuck it to
my coffin with a wad of
tangerine gum
my mind has become melted parsley,
my ears frozen cheese.
like old aunt ginny used to say
(lord jesus almighty
bless her heart
and soul and catheter)
'sometimes you drink the milk
and sometimes the milk
drinks you.'
For more than a year I've lain stiff and quiet upon the hospital bed,
Bandaged and bundled and waited on like an unruly infant,
Finally allowed to get a drink myself when I'm dry and try to feed myself.
The catheter is removed and once again I must stand and stroll to the loo.
Allowed now to sit up for maybe two hours at a stretch; bring me my laptop.
Trying to read the soup and find what the passing calendar pages have done.
To my old friends, SHAME! few have kept up with their posts.
To my new friends HELLO and WELCOME we need fresh blood like vampires!
Now criticize me and make me anxious enough to write
My Lord I thank you
You are the best
My love for you
Gets put through the tests
I went in the Hospital
For a heart catheter today
You made a natural bypass
On my heart some way
Thanks for the Miracle
Thanks for everything
I want to sing your praises
To you every day
You are my Lord and Savior
You are the only Way
To life everlasting
With You at the healm
I want everyone to know You
I want everyone to love You
The way that I do
Talk to Him and walk with Him
Never be afraid
He will take us all to Heaven
The plans have all been made
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