It’s been two days now since I was operated for removal of a cyst, so far I am feeling pretty fine without any noticeable pain. I was treated very nicely, by the whole surgical team and my Attendant in the ward Ms Sarah. I asked her whether she knew that I was an asylum seeker, just to have an idea, whether they can guess from our given address of an asylum centre about our status.
She replied in negative and also told me that she never encountered an asylum seeker in the hospital. I am just trying to say I did not feel even a bit of discomfort on the face of anyone for my skin colour or for me being an asylum seeker and being treated there.
Everyone was incredibly nice, I was assigned a bed and a chair in the ward but I never used the bed as I was more comfortable in the chair.
The most incredible and funny incident of that day was that I did not have an iota of an idea before entering the hospital about my scheduled surgery as I did not read my letter properly.
I had been occupied with the preparation of my Interview in the justice office which was scheduled for the same week and I read the letter from the hospital with a cursory look and thought it was for some kind of test.
On the day when my surgery was scheduled, I went to hospital under the impression of being invited for some sort of medical test there. After reaching the proper department i.e. admission office and after making my presence marked with the lady at the reception, I read the letter in detail while sitting in the waiting area. I know this was a significantly careless attitude of me about that letter but I was really under pressure since the time I received the letter from the justice department about my second interview on Asylum Case. Actually, it was a second interview without a decision on my case. So I was occupied with the preparation of my interview all this time and could not give the due attention to the surgery letter, it needed.
So it dawned on me as a shock when I read the precautionary instruction given in the letter about bringing a dressing gown and slippers as I was to walk to the operation theatre. I immediately rushed to the reception and told the lady the actual situation but she said if I wanted another appointment, the surgeon doctor will be in a better position to decide about that. So I had to get admission in the surgical ward.
Letter also stated that, I might need a help of a handler at the time of leaving, so I called my friends about my situation and told them to be ready, In case I needed some kind of help after the surgery.
My friends were also shocked to hear about my surgery as this topic never came up in our discussions, like ever.
Anyhow I diced to give it a go. Ms Sarah, My attendant, in the ward, was very nice, The doctor on duty, I don’t remember the name though, was very nice and he actually explained to me in detail, the procedure of my surgery and that I would be administered only a local anaesthetic meaning thereby I will be awake during my surgery and only the spot under treatment will be numb. It was new for me.
I had been treated in the past for my kidney stones but I was not awake and under the influence of an anaesthetic and completely unconscious. This was my first time with a local anaesthetic and without any family or friend by my side. But this is quite a notice worthy fact that at this time when nobody is with you, how the hospital staff takes care of you in a very welcoming manner is worth appreciating. They don’t make you feel, not cared for, unattended or lonely. I left a thank you note for Dr. Adrian, my surgeon, Ms Sarah, my attendant in the ward and the whole staff and surgical team in the operation theatre, before I left the hospital that day.
Another beautiful thing which I noticed that day was, when I was taken to the operation theatre, I saw a combination of nationalities in the operation theatre, I saw African, Indian, Pakistani, doctors and nurses all working together under the observation of My Irish Surgeon, Dr. Adrian Ireland.
It was a beautiful sight, looking at them all working together to make one patient’s life better regardless of the fact, who he or she is. There was no hatred, no racism, no discrimination but an environment of love and integration.
I had been constantly asked whether I was doing fine during the actual surgical procedure, to be honest, other than the stinging I felt in the beginning when I was being administered a local anaesthetic, I did not feel a thing and in a very painless manner the whole procedure of surgery and stiches was completed remarkably by the doctor and the whole team present there.
I was told to get up slowly after the completion of surgery, I felt I was completely fine, I did not feel any weakness or dizziness, when I got up to sit in the wheel chair, provided by the staff as a standard procedure for taking patients to the ward, I felt I was able to walk to the ward but I was not allowed to. Anyhow when I came to the ward, I preferred to sit in the chair because of the stiches on my upper back. Ms Sarah asked me if I wanted anything, juice, tea or coffee, though I did not feel the need of anything but she insisted so I asked for a cup of black coffee, which actually I really enjoyed as it relaxed my body a bit and relieved the pressure off of my nerves.
I notified my friends about my perfect condition and told them that I would be able to be back on my own. I sat there for a while and enjoyed two cups of coffee, walked up to the washroom in the ward, I felt completely fine to go back to centre on my own.
I notified the nurse at the reception within the ward that I was fine and wanted to leave, she replied that she was waiting for my discharge letter which came in a few minutes and I was allowed to leave the hospital along with a few replaceable bandages. Ms. Sarah also explained to me the procedure of cleaning the stitched spot and changing the bandages. I could not leave without leaving a thank you note to all of them.
I went alone in the hospital but because of them and their welcoming environment, did not feel lonely a bit and was able to go through the surgical procedure and be back on own, with ease and without having any friends and family by my side, which they would have if notified earlier about my operation.
Other than the stiches on my body and a scar, this incident only left pleasant memories and lovely impressions on my mind and heart. Thank you Dr. Adrian and team, Ms. Sarah and most specifically thank you Ireland, I am in love with you.
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