It had been several months I was a away from urgent care, which had been close to a daily habit for me. Since being unemployed and uninsured I have missed out on the place that had once been a home away from home. I often thought of the nurses, doctors, and regulars (patients) that had become like an extended family. I missed their happy faces when they would see me come in to check-in, I miss the excitement they would get waiting to find out what injury I had sustained, and the looks on the doctors faces when I would tell them what happened "this time". I was sad to think that they would watch the hall and wait in anticipation for me to round the corner only to be disappointed each time. I never got to say goodbye.
It was a bittersweet moment when I entered through the doors of the Vandever Medical Offices a couple of days ago, newly insured under COBRA, and with a build up of ailments an injuries. Yes, I was actually excited to be back and couldn't wait to get up to the 4th floor to see if any of my familiar friends were there! I'm not a junkie and I'm not pathetic and sad, just because I take enjoyment in going to urgent care. The enjoyment is in the reaction of the people I meet and the stories I pass along to them, that I can only hope they share with others!
As I walked off the elevator and rounded the corner towards the nurse's check-in station I saw a familiar face and when her eyes made contact with me she lit up like a Christmas tree :) She was my favorite nurse and the one that checked me in most often. She was beaming with excitement as I approached the desk and she shouted out with glee "you're back!" She came out from behind the desk and gave me a big hug. She said they had all been so worried about what might have happened to me. They had all come up with various stories of what it might of been - some horrific accident they assumed. They imagined I had died or was in a coma in some hospital somewhere. She told me that for at least a month or more they had a pool going on when I would be back in, but after a couple months had passed, they gave up hope.
As I sat patiently in the waiting room to see what doctor I was going to get, I noticed another familiar face. It was the old guy that was an urgent care regular and never liked me. He was the one I've written about before with the cane and the disgruntled looks. He always hated it because he thought I got preferential treatment and they would call me back first. He noticed me too and gave me the stink eye. I had visions of him taking his cane and whacking me with it. I secretly hoped they would call me back first, just to see the expression on his face! It was my lucky day, because just as I thought that, the door opened and they said "Debra?". As I got up to walk back there, he sneered at me and shook his cane a little. A slight grin overcame me as I strolled by him :)
When they took my vitals and sent me back into one of the open rooms, I sat in anticipation waiting for the doctor to walk through. I was hoping it was going to be one of my favorites, but was pretty much excited to see any of them. The door opened and it was an unfamiliar face, which was not necessarily bad. I always liked to break in a newbie. He introduced himself and I said "you haven't been in urgent care for long, have you?" to which he replied "only a couple of months, how did you know?". I told him he just needed to glance at my chart to understand. There it was....that shocked and surprised look whenever a newbie saw my history of urgent care visits and my wide array of mishaps and illnesses. I loved that look! I just smiled and I said "I'm pretty much a regular here, but I've been away for a few months. I knew you couldn't have been here much longer than that!" He laughed and said "dare I ask what it is this time?" I liked his sense of humor. He could be a new favorite.
I explained my bike crash and injuries and he was much more thorough than my other urgent care docs. I think this is the beginning of something wonderful!
For the second time this week (the first week of really having my insurance back mind you) I went to urgent care because I was dizzy and passing out all the time. I was excited to see another nurse that I hadn't seen in quite some time and she too was overjoyed to see me! She was sure I was dead too! I got another hug and got to see my new and promising urgent care doc again.
It feels good to have my urgent care back again. Vandever is my home away from home, and if I ever have to leave it again, it will be with a heavy heart and proper goodbyes!
I'm back!!
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