5:00 AM Emergency Room Visit

Well, I had my annual trip to the ER last Saturday morning.
Tom went to bed with the stomach flu, we thought. About 3 AM he was very uncomfortable with abdominal pain and by 5 AM he was telling me that we needed to go to the hospital. Usually ER visits in Central Florida require a minimum 4 hour wait in the waiting room. We were pleasantly surprised when the nurse took us right back to a room.
Tom was in more pain than I've ever seen him. He rolled and twisted on the bed, moaned and groaned for 2 hours before the doc finally ordered some pain killer for him. It was good stuff! I watched as the meds took effect. One second he was writhing in pain, the next he was out like a light.
It is so frustrating to watch someone you love go through these types of experiences. I kept stepping out to the nurses desk and asking her what was going on and why it was taking so long. She would smile and say, "The doctor is with a critical patient right now. He'll be with you as soon as he is able." I wanted to smack the smile right off of her face! What's more critical then being bent over in unrelenting abdominable pain? A heart attack, apparently.
A man and his wife had followed us into the ER. He was having trouble breathing and having chest pains. I decided that he probably did need the doc's attention a little more then we did. I know for a fact though, that Tom didn't agree. ;-)
So, what was all the fuss over. A kidney stone. If you've ever had one you understand completely what Tom was going through. If you haven't had one, count your blessings and pray you never do.
Today Tom is finally starting to feel a little better. He was well enough to go to work for a meeting with his supervisor. It was one of those meetings every employee loves to be called into. She told him that he needed to be looking for work elsewhere because his weeks were numbered at HTE, Inc. There are some management changes coming soon and his position will be done away with.
Are we surprised? Nope. We've known this was coming for over a year. The product he supports is being closed out. We are actually hoping that the timing works out so that they will lay him off before he gives notice. :-} That way he gets several weeks of severance pay. That would be very helpful in relocating this summer. Keep a happy thought that he'll get layed off!