Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Call Me Back...You're Not Well!

Call Me Back…You’re Not Well!


It’s a couple days after the Wellness Screening and I get a message from someone at the Laboratory who would like to discuss some of the results of the blood test with me.  She would like me to call her back right away.  I know what this is about.  Although I filled out the questionnaire which included the information about me having cancer, it must not have made it to the people who analyze the blood sample.  I call her back during my chemo treatment, I have plenty of time. 
I barely give her my full name so she knows who’s calling before she starts in.  I guess she has been waiting for my call back.  I should just make it easy on her and tell her upfront that I have cancer so I already know I’m sick but I think she has been rehearsing what she’s going to say to me so I let her start.  She has the test results from my blood sample on her desk and she does what doctors and nurses are often so good at doing; she’s setting me up gently for a big blow.  She doesn’t know that I already know what’s coming.  She begins to tell me that my white blood count is very low (actually for a chemo patient my white blood count of 1.6 was considered decent, up from 0.0!) and recommended that I see my personal physician immediately as such an abnormal result could indicate something serious.  She is about to continue when I stop her.  I let her in on the secret.  Surprise!  I have cancer!  I knew all along that I wasn’t well!  Ha ha, joke’s on you nice lady!  I hear the relief in her voice when she realizes that she isn’t the one to have to break the bad news to me, “you failed your wellness screening and you’re incredibly sick”.  I thank her for calling me with the news and let her know that I appreciate the quick and personal response rather than having to wait another two weeks for the results to come by mail.  Had I not already known, it would have meant a great deal.  She wishes me well and makes sure that I am getting my CBC’s done and monitored regularly.  I let her know that yes, they are completed every week and my last one was done just a few minutes ago.  I’m sure she is happy to be able to cross my name off of her list of dreaded things to do today. 
Looking on the Bright Side…it was oddly amusing to know that I gave someone good news by letting them know I have cancer.  I felt like it was very generous of me to not have to let her think she was delivering horrible life changing news to me.  That’s already been done.  You’re welcome!

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