Yesterday, I arrived at the Spina Bifida Clinic inside UAB’s Spain Rehab Building in Birmingham, Alabama, at 9:25 AM.
My first appointment was scheduled for 10 AM.
I signed in, paid my copay, and took my seat.
I began reading my book, “the Catcher in the Rye,” spelled like that, and settled in for a long day.
Around 9:30, I and another patient—a man in a bed—were told to go up to the second floor for our X-Rays.
The man had a caretaker who pushed his bed and cared for his needs. I followed them to the elevator and got on last.
I pushed the 2nd-floor button, and up we went.
In the X-Ray department, I let the Bed Bound man go first. I sat and began reading my book.
When it was my turn, I walked into the room. I immediately remembered the X-Ray Tech as the same Tech I had from my last appointment.
“He sees so many people that he probably doesn’t remember me,” I thought. So I didn’t mention it.
Afterward, it was back to the first floor to sit and wait for my next appointment. —Back to reading my book.
I did take notice of how many people freely sat and talked on their phones without speaking in a “hushed” voice.
Just talking out loud to Uncle Bobby or Aunt Mary without caring whether the whole room could hear them speaking or not.
I kept reading my book.
A little after 10, I was called back for my Ultra Sound.
I spoke with the Ultra Sound Tech about my “Hydro-Nephrosis of the Kidneys” as well as the Stents that I have in both Kidneys.
The Tech was even friendly enough to show me and explain what I was looking at. I now know what my Hydro-Nephrosis of the Kidneys look like.
By 10:50 AM, it was time for lunch.
I asked if there were any Chinese Restaurants nearby and was told of a close restaurant. I left for lunch. I posted pictures of lunch in a different post, so I’ll skip over lunch.
I arrived back at the Clinic by 11:45 AM and again sat down and began reading my book.
Around 12:50, I got called back to see the Neurosurgeon and the Spina Bifida doctor.
I was excited yet nervous to see and speak to the Neurosurgeon.
I’ve been seeing him for years now. Our first meeting did not go well. It was nobody’s fault and is a story for another day. I like seeing him during these appointments. I hold him in high esteem.
He spoke with me for a good 40 minutes, and we both discussed my Tethered Spinal Cord.
I asked questions regarding growing older with Spina Bifida and growing older with a Tethered Spinal Cord. He answered all of my questions as honestly as he could.
The truth is, doctors are only in the beginning stages of dealing with Adults with Spina Bifida, and he was honest about that.
I do appreciate his honesty, too. I appreciate him.
All in all, this appointment went great.
—In fact, I don’t have to go back for another year.
Love you,
–Lynn
