Letters to the Editor

Monday, October 6, 2008

Another chance

Several weeks ago, I began to complain that I felt like warmed-over okra. I was told by a friend that a call to the doctor was in order. That was on Monday. As a middle-aged man, I knew, of course, I could ride this out.

By Wednesday, I was having second thoughts, and because I promised my friend I would make the call if things got worse, I called my doctor who ordered me to Roper Hospital. That was a good thing. It turned out that I had double pneumonia.

On Thursday morning, I had my first operation and fell into a coma. When I awoke Saturday in intensive care with a respirator tube down my throat, I felt true fear for the first time in my life. Luckily, my friend flew against a hurricane to be with me. After about an hour of fear and pain, things improved.

It wasn't long after that I was transferred to one of the third-floor pulmonary units. I thought to myself, "Self, you'll be out of here in a couple days and back to raising Cain in no time."

I was released recently and was itching to jump back into the fray, except that I didn't take notice that a week and a half of bed rest was the deal for getting out of Roper.

I want to thank everyone at Roper for saving my life. I could name some names, but it felt as though the bunch were part of a Cecil B. DeMille production with a "cast of thousands," so this is a big shout-out to all of you, whether doctors, nurses, nurse's aides or technicians. Thank you for giving me another chance, and God bless every one of you.

David Farrow

Rutledge Avenue

Charleston