..........................

the doctor intubates;
the nurse begins compressions;
the tecn runs for the defibrillator;
chaos.

............................

the wife cries;
the son screams;
the mother despairs;
agony.

............................

earlier.
when things were not so chaotic,
the signs were missed.
the symptoms were there.
hidden,
silent,
underground.
yet screaming : "SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE"
overlooked.

this could have been prevented, 
in another world,
under different circumstances.

 

 

 

 

 

...........................

"Hello, Mr. Roberts, I will be your nurse today!"
He says he feels well. 
I lend a warm smile.

............BEEP................

Minutes later, I bring him a warm blanket.
I recognize his breathing is different.
A slight stumble on the way to the bedside commode.
He grasps at his chest, but decides "it's nothing".

................BEEP..........................BEEP..........

I call the doctor, despite Mr. Roberts dismissal.
I can see the eye roll through the phone, hear his thoughts through his tone.
'Silly nurse, wasting my time when I have patients to see.'
Still, I request that he orders an EKG, and he begrudglingly obliges.

........BEEP................BEEP..................BEEP.....

The EKG results print.
Ventricular Fibrillation.
Silent Killer.
Stealer of husbands, fathers, children.
Treatment is begun immediately.

...BEEP......BEEP.....BEEP.....BEEP...