Things I have learned from two trips to two BC hospitals in the last month:

I had hip replacement surgery Nov 25 at Burnaby Hospital. On Dec 20, the new joint dislocated, and I found myself calling 911 for the first time in my life.

Every human I dealt with, at both hospitals, gave me excellent care, despite clearly feeling the effects of this past year. Not one was bitter or cynical or cranky. But no question, all of them were tired.

While I was dealing with a scary situation, being in enormous pain and unable to move, the 911 dispatcher Ray and paramedics Earl and Daren were thorough, thoughtful, kind, and patient...and that makes all difference in the world.

Similarly, answering patient qs showed how committed the medical team is to patient care. Vancouver General Hospital nurses Emily M & Gert and Dr Campbell listened carefully & updated me clearly on their plans to pop the hip into its proper location. Which they did successfully

It took more than two hours for an ambulance to arrive, and I live three blocks from VGH. I was told by a few people that overdoses and COVID-19 are overwhelming the EMT system in BC's lower mainland.

Of course, that's not limited to BC. And I was lucky. My situation was not life threatening, but the delay exacerbated the pain. I had no idea I could scream that loud. It was like an out of body experience. Every day the system is overwhelmed, people are suffering in pain.

How did this happen, you ask? I absentmindedly crossed the foot of the healing leg over the other foot. That's it. Lesson: take the precautions from the surgical team seriously, even when you're sleeping. (And yes, I have now reinstated the "pillow wall" between my feet.)

My surgeon Dr Dunwoody called me first thing today to check on me and talk me through next steps. I already have huge respect for him & the whole team at Burnaby Hosp, performing surgeries during a pandemic. Calling to ensure I'm going to be okay thru the holidays was next level.

When I asked a nurse what's missing from pandemic news coverage in general, she begged me: do anything and everything to get people to listen to Dr. Bonnie Henry and public health. She said colleagues are terrified about how many people are going to die in the post Xmas world.

"When you have to hold the hand of someone who is dying alone, and then your shift ends and you see people ignoring the rules, it makes an already difficult job even more dangerous. And it makes you even more upset and sad," the nurse told me.

On the vaccine, one nurse said it should go immediately to all first responders - paramedics & firefighters, before anyone else - because of where they're going & who they're meeting in homes/hospitals.
I recall during SARS, they were some of the most vulnerable in Toronto.

I'm grateful for the care I got. I'm so thankful for our system.

Most of all we need to thank all the health care workers who are looking after us not only in our most vulnerable moments, but theirs too.

A final lesson: When you live on your own, have a plan for how to let EMT in if you can't move. Give a key to a friend, keep your building supervisor's mobile number handy. They may end up saving you.