chicago nights and wheelchairs

Jaime, my nurse handed me a piece of paper with a note written on it.

I smiled. It was a nice purple post it. With the name of one of my dear patient and the name of his caregiver who was, let's just say, was inside her house when intelligence was poured forth to the world. She's calling about your patient. She wants a letter that Mister X could use a wheelchair.

I frown.

What happened to his wheelchair? I'm pretty sure he has one.

Jaime smiled. Well, you won't believe this....

Statements that start out with those words usually are unbelievable...

He does have one, but they don't have an order to use it.

Ka blam!

Was that a bomb or was that the sound of the caregiver's IQ dropping to the floor?

I think it was the latter.

Sure here's a letter and a script for the caregiver as well, called "common sense".

I swear, if this country didn't have enough intelligent people to compensate for people like these...

Here's what I wrote: He may use his wheelchair.

Here's what I wanted to write:

Dear Miss XOXO

Believe it or not, when you were developing in your mother's womb, around the first trimester, there's this group of cells that migrated caudally and rostrally to form your spinal cord and brain. AT the age of two years old, the connections in your brain would be fairly stable. The brain is a wonderful thing, it's divided into the the cortex (thinking skills), the cerebellum (balance) and the brainstem (breathing). I suggest you would do well to explore beyond breathing.

In conclusion, Mister X, may use the wheelchair.

And i'll throw this in, free of charge, if he gets short of breath, you may use the oxygen to facilitate his respiratory distress.

Your loving doctor,
Cheen.

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I was riled up with that. How can we expect to move collectively as a race if we get bogged down by people who can't decide that a wheelchair could be used if needed, and that yes, a toothbrush could be used if you have dirty teeth.

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So I went to Chicago.

Again.

For the nth time.

Don't get me wrong. Chicago is a great place.

But i feel so constricted with chicago. I go there because it is a 2 hour ride versus a 12 hour one with NYC. In chicago, you have to look great. Dress a certain way, show your pectoral muscles, show off some skin, and some butt cheeks if needed. Spend big bucks on stores.

But not in NYC. Where you could be a slob and still claim to embody the spirit of NYC. You see NYC has the audacity to embrace individuality. There's no such thing as trying to keep up with the BMI of everyone. You could be as thin as you want or as fat as you want. I just didn't get that vibe from chicago. It was like being in some sorority club where you have to please other people. NYC is like being in UP Diliman, where you could be weird and still talk to the town's Brad Pitt.

I miss new york city. I miss it everyday but Chicago is doing a good job of trying to ease those pangs. Plus my close friends are in chicago so that is nice. Walking in broadway chicago though is vastly different than walking in broadway nyc. I think it is just my quirkiness that made me love nyc. The city who is never afraid to show how dirty she is and how great she is if she decides to dress up.


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