A Moment In Time

Chapter One: Normal Life

Beginning the day at 2pm is not a normal routine for me yet. Although it is nice to sleep in, it’s still hard to get used to being left in bed alone. Turning off my phone alarm I get up and am greeted with the small yips of my two kittens we had just gotten a few months ago. The two boys are long haired orange barn cats. A friend says they look like a manecoon in the way their long fur goes between their toes and how big they are already.

Good morning boys I say. Who’s hungry? They yell back making it known they are in fact hungry and would love to eat. We make our way to the kitchen where I pour out some of their food. They thank me with purrs as they eat their little orange butts in the air. I turn and go straight to coffee and some breakfast.. I mean lunch.. Whatever it is. My coffee corner is my favorite part of the apartment.

I have been loving my new job. I just graduated paramedic school and was hired at a very well known hospital to work in their ER assisting nurses. I was in charge of vitals, routine care, blood draws, and so much more. Even at 3AM I’m usually busy enough that I didn’t even notice. I’m helping people, that’s what I love to do. Make someone feel heard and like they are going to be taken care of. Don’t get me wrong, after paramedic school most are probably thinking why aren’t you in an ambulance? Well that is a good question, it is most simply because of test anxiety. There are two national exams you have to take to be a registered Paramedic. One is a physical run through different skills and the other is a written exam. This written exam gets me everytime. I have many job offers  for the Ambulance however without that certification my degree isn’t enough. So instead of continuing to try and fail I decided to go somewhere I could continue to learn and hopefully get more confident . I go to our apartment gym to do a quick HITT workout. The gym at our apartment is very nice, there are a few machines and free weights. I’m not in the best shape of my life but I’m trying to get better, I’m still better than I was in high school so that’s something. Walking home I make sure to stop and check the mail, nothing but bills.

Alec comes home kissing me hello hes wearing dark jeans and a grey sweater. We make dinner together. Alec is so handsome, with brown hair short on the sides but longer on top, blue eyes that are always searching and full lips. He must’ve shaved his face this morning because his stubble is shorter than yesterday. When he kisses me I barely feel it but it does tickle if he kisses my neck. Today is my pick for dinner.

Salmon from Aldi and veggies? I say looking at him as he walks over to hug me, his captivating smile leaving me staring. Unable to stop to smile spreading on my face.

Sure. He says back, giving me a peck and tickles me a little on my side. I squeal and turn to get the ingredients out of the fridge.

How was your day? I ask looking for the frozen veggies. As we work together to make dinner and the cats are yipping at us from the smell of the salmon and we continue to discuss his day and my night before. We eat dinner and watch our show of the moment Ink Masters. Acting as if we have any idea what is actually good even though I’m the only one with a tattoo and it took less than 5 minutes to do. A little coffee cup outline on my outer wrist. Coffee is an obsession to say the least. We cuddled and joked around for a while. Every once in a while kissing. Its one of our favorite things to do together. It’s so comforting to be together, enjoying the easiness of our love. Being together for over two years we’re very comfortable together. Seeing the time I need to start getting ready, I start my shift at 11pm but I like being early so I’m getting ready at 9:45. It does take a half hour to get to work too.

I’m going to get ready, I love you. I say as I kiss him and give him a big hug.

I love you too. He says squeezing me and smiling. He changes the TV into his gaming channel and has it all set up to go to war with his newest beast. He works so hard at work being an Analyst at a big company. Walking the 10 feet to the bathroom and taking a quick shower, grabbing my scrubs for the shift, maroon is the color for my position so patients and coe-workers know what I can do to help without having to ask. It is still winter so I usually wear an undershirt, although sometimes I do regret it, getting sweaty from running around. I decided to go for it, it is a Monday night and not too snowy so it might be slow. It is negative 10 outside in Minnesota though so we might get an influx of homeless people searching for warmth. Beans is crying from outside the bathroom door because he doesn’t like being shut out. I open the door for him to run in still yelling at me for locking him out as he rubs against my leg. He lays at my feet smelling the water. I dance and sing to the music playing in the bathroom as I get ready. I don’t do much makeup because I’ll be wearing a mask the whole day anyway. COVID has really changed the job description for health care providers. Putting my long brown hair into braids and tieing them back as a bun so I don’t have to worry about it being in my face. Glasses and a mask really are enough for me to have to deal with.

Looking at myself in the mirror I see an average height midsize female holding her little orange kitten. I start dancing around with Beans, singing and laughing at his completely calm little body just chilling out in my arms. His brother Catpawcinno is now in the bathroom with us getting into the wet shower as he loves to do. Still singing I go to the kitchen with only my long sleeve and scrub pants on, I don’t want cat hair on my scrub top. I quickly pack up some leftovers and snacks for the night. Sometimes it isn’t really a full break, it’s more of just sitting at your desk eating something because we get so busy so I make sure to have options. Trying to stay healthy with that is a whole other story. Usually I have some fruit and veggies with hummus or a granola bar in my bag at all times. I also always made sure to have some energy squeeze packets for my water in case my coffee wasnt enough one night.

Baby, I have to leave. I say as I put on my scrub top and my long black jacket, ear warmer and mittens. He walks over grabbing Catpawcinno on his way.

We need to say goodbye. He says to him and he gives me a hug and a kiss. I kiss Cappy and put my work backpack on. Love you, have a good night. He says as I open the door.

Love you too. I say shutting and locking the door behind me. Running through the list in my head that I have everything I need. Snacks, a meal, water bottle, coffee, watch, phone, glasses, work badge. I think that’s all. I get into my old jeep liberty, turning it on waiting a few minutes for it to warm up. It’s about a 30 minute drive to work for me so I usually use that time to call my mom to check in or I listen to music.Hi mom, how are you? I say, excited to hear from her, it had been a few days of us missing each other.

Hey girlie, I’m good. How are you? On your way to work? She says. I can tell she’s a little sleepy. It is about 10PM so I don’t blame her.

Yepper, I’m good. I’m not too tired today, so I’m excited. I’m on my third shift alone today. I love it. Most of the nurses I work with seem to like me. I tell her.

That’s awesome. I’m so glad you like it there. She yawns. Do you think it will be busy today?

I answer. Maybe it’s supposed to be a very cold night so I’m sure we will be. Mom, if I’m keeping you awake you can go to sleep.

No no it’s only another 10 minutes and I’ve missed you. Tell me about your past couple of days? She says.

Well yesterday I had a patient with the worst smelling GI Bleed, she was pooping out blood basically and I had to measure how much it was by pouring it into a long cylinder everytime. And I had Chili for dinner. I laugh.

My mom says Justine! That’s so gross. Is the lady okay?

I believe so, we brought her up to the ICU. We continue to talk about other patients I’ve had the last couple of days and what Alec and I have been up to. I also got to hang out with my best friend Elizabeth. She and I always have a good time. Alec, myself, her and her boyfriend had all been living together only a few months ago. Once at the hospital in the worker parking lot I get ready to go in, almost forgetting my mask. As I walk in I say hi to the security guards and walk back to the ER. Putting my outerwear in my locker and my coffee mug that is now empty. I keep my backpack with me for easy access to the snacks and water bottle. Swiping my badge in and going upstairs I find my assignment and head over for a report from the previous ED Tech (emergency department technician).

They are all crazy, they say to another tech as I walk up.

Uh oh, what am I coming into.. I say. Worried about what could possibly be getting this response from this tech who is usually very calm.

Oh no I’m talking about a TV show.. As she continues to tell me about this TV show I take a deep breath. Thank goodness. I really am not looking for anything crazy right now. She then tells me about her very easy shift with two sleepers is what we call them. They could be people who need to sober up or mental health related or something that we just need time to find a bed for them in inpatient care.

Mostly negative COVID tests. She smiles at me waiting for my normal questions. I’m known for being through as I like to call it but I’m sure some people don’t like it.

All the rooms are full of supplies and the blood drawing cart is full? I ask. She nods and turns to leave. Thank you, have a great night I say. She waves as she’s yawning. I log in and assign my rooms to my name so I can see what we have going on.

Hours go by. Patients come and go, nothing huge but I am not able to sit down because I have so much to do. As I am making a bed in one of my rooms an ambulance crew brings in a new patient. There is a young woman about 6 months pregnant and a baby. The young woman is clearly intoxicated and crying that she wants to hold the baby. Policy with someone that intoxicated cannot hold their baby because they could accidentally drop them. I took the baby from the paramedic. She is about 2 years old and is just taking in her surroundings, not crying, not sleepy, just looking around and holding tightly to me. The mom gets into our bed and the paramedics leave to give a report to the patient’s nurse. The mom is yelling at me as she is crying to let her hold her baby, I walk over and stand close so the mom can hold her hand. The mom looks at me and says How could someone keep someone else’s baby from them?

It is for her and your safety. What are your names? I ask.She continues to tell me their names and I continue trying to distract her and the baby from them not being able to be together. Although the baby didn’t seem that bothered. The doctor comes in and I take the little girl out and play with her. I change her diaper and we check her offer for any blemishes or anything to that extent. It looks like she is perfectly healthy and happy. As she starts to get sleepy she leans her head on my shoulder sucking her thumb. My heart throbs. I am only 22. I do not want a baby yet I tell myself. She is just too cute. All of a sudden I hear her mom yelling that she is leaving with her baby. The doctor explains why we cant let her leave due to her intoxication level unless there is a family member who will come and get them. He also tells her an obstetrician would be down soon to look at her current pregnancy, she agrees to call a family member and lays back down. She looks at me and says, She loves you. and then turns away crying.

We get an alcohol level of .21.The legal limit to drive in Minnesota is .08. About an hour goes by of trying to keep this wide awake two year old occupied and switching with other techs so I can still help out my other patients and nurses in my section. Finally obstetrics comes in and does an ultrasound. There are twins in there. They are abnormally small for their age but their heart beats are strong and even. That’s when the patient decides to divulge she also does injection drugs and takes off her long sleeve. She asks  Is that why the babies are small? You can see many track marks all along the inside of her arms and tops of her hand. I hug that baby and turn away so she doesn’t have to watch. I gave her a cute little stuffed animal and some apple sauce.

The sheriff that is always posted at the hospital comes over and asks about the state of the baby and if there was anything to report there. Not, here. Although I don’t know what you can do for the two inside her. I answer.

She has warrants out for her arrest actually. He states looking at this happy little baby. I have to arrest her.

Well she called a family member to come already so luckily she’ll have something. I say as I motion towards the baby. He nods and walks away.

About 20 minutes later the baby’s aunt was there and took over care for her and talked to the doctor and sheriff about future plans for the patient. One of the nurses from a different section comes up to me in a rush, Justine I need help with this blood draw and a catheter for this room and the tech I have is on a break and I need to do meds. Will you please help me?

Ofcourse, let me just check in with the nurses at my section and I’ll be right over. She thanks me and rushes off. Looking around everyone seems pretty calm and there’s nothing in my notes to do but I go check in anyway. Both nurses say they are good for the time being. It is about 6AM at this point. Only an hour and a half left. I go over to the other section and do the catheter first because those are my least favorite and I just wanted to be done with it. I collect a sample and go test it, then send it to the lab. One my way to the blood draw I get a call on the walkie from my supervisor to come talk to her