AN INFUSION OF HUMOR

[schlomo]

An Infusion of Humor

Three days ago, I tested positive for COVID-19.  Although I am doing much better now, Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu scheduled me for a monoclonal antibody infusion tomorrow morning. The rationale: I am old (ouch!) and immunologically compromised because of my blood cancer and my fatty liver disease.

While I was on the phone getting preliminary information from one of the medical assistants, she told me that a nurse escort would wheel me into the infusion lab when I would arrive at 7:30 A.M. Then she started to give me a COVID-19 hotline phone number.

But before she could recite the second digit, I interrupted her without thinking: “A nurse escort, how kinky!” The assistant luckily was not offended by my unscripted quip. Instead, she began to laugh uproariously. She tried to continue with the hotline number, but she was too caught up with my evidently hysterical remark.  After taking a moment to settle down, she told me the complete hotline number and then repeated that tomorrow a nurse would guide me to the infusion center. She didn’t use the word escort: perhaps on purpose to avoid another bout of irrepressible laughter, trying to maintain her professional cool.

I don’t know if I made the assistant’s day with my spontaneous joke. I certainly have been in a better mood. Before speaking to her, I was apprehensive about the prospect of undergoing an experimental man-made procedure that would postpone my eligibility for a fourth booster shot for at least three months. Now, hours later, I still feel a bit uneasy, but the medical assistant’s uninhibited good cheer earlier in the day has been a saving grace.

[AARPRachelA]

Thanks for sharing this anecdote @schlomo! It sounds like you were able to bring some levity to a grim situation. I hope your treatment went well!

[Rhymesometimes]

@schlomo  We could all use more humor these days.  Especially for the understaffed, overworked health care professionals.

[Kruppy]

I don’t know how ‘old’ you are but obviously old enough to know better.  She wasn’t laughing because you made an hysterical remark, she was laughing to cover up her disbelief and discomfort that an obviously inappropriate quip made it past your lips.  Best wishes on a speedy recovery, man made or otherwise!