A century ago (or elsewhere in the world), I would have had to live with my increasingly debilitating intestinal problems, an ailment that would have dampened productivity, and my overall well-being, for decades to come. Pain-free surgery would have been an impossibility.
Instead, thanks to anesthesia, by the time I arrived in the operating room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on December 20, I was completely out. As Dr. Nagle expertly performed the laparascopic sigmoidectomy, I experienced no pain, and very little afterward. During my two days of post-op recovery (there was never any doubt that I would recover!), I was attended to expertly, and gently, by residents, nurse practitioners, nurses, and nurses aids. Everything worked. Splendidly.
Source: istockphoto
Two weeks later, I'm on the mend. I'm not 100%, but the recovery has been rapid enough, I could almost overlook just how miraculous modern-day medicine is. And how grateful I am for a corp of physicians and nurses with good bedside manner.
Almost.
How is your life different because of modern-day medicine?
I, too, am grateful for modern medicine. My husband and I are Rh-incompatible. Without two minor shots, one pre-delivery, one post-delivery, during each pregnancy, I would have one child, not four. Fifty years ago, my body would have killed any subsequent fetus that had my husband's blood-type (the likely outcome, as all my children have his blood type). Two little shots, three huge miracles.
Posted by: EHD | January 03, 2011 at 07:01 AM
It's amazing!
I would have been gone after my first child, without modern medicine. A full-leg (groin to ankle) deep venous thrombosis that now has been reduced to a lump of scar tissue the size of my pinky finger. I'm so grateful to be alive.
Posted by: Jenny | January 03, 2011 at 08:41 AM
Your 'almost' at the end cracks me up. I too would have been on the other side of the veil much sooner than I would want without modern medicene. Recover fully!
Posted by: Amy Jo | January 03, 2011 at 08:56 AM
I have my 3rd son because of medicine and medical research. When he was born he wasn't able to breath, but because of medical research that was discovered just 3 years previously, they were able to save his life.
Posted by: Allison | January 03, 2011 at 09:46 AM
So glad you are on the mend!
Posted by: Maria | January 03, 2011 at 10:36 AM
on the provider side of the picture, if it weren't for modern medicine, my DH wouldn't likely have quit his job in Vermont and gone to medical school 4.5 years ago. And he woudn't be 1/2 done with his intern year right now. And he wouldn't be as excited about a future and profession that he loves. And I wouldn't have enjoyed the many friends I've made in the past 4 years. And my kids wouldn't have gotten to know their cousins. And our finances would probably have always been squeezy.
On the patient side, that gangrenous gall bladder might have killed me a couple years ago. Nothing like amazing medical care!
Posted by: Blue | January 03, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Love modern medicine, yes. And love that you're healing and that this surgery is behind you. Onward, with joy and gratitude!
Posted by: Carolyn M. | January 03, 2011 at 11:13 AM
I would be missing 2 of my favorite children, and I'd have not enjoyed delivering the other two without our modern medicine. Not to mention a host of other issues that have come up through the years that would've severely compromised our quality of life. My aunt always told me "you live at this time for a reason--take advantage of it!" I think she's right.
Hallelujah!
Posted by: Lisle | January 03, 2011 at 02:57 PM
Modern medicine means that we caught my husband's lead poisoning before it killed him.
Posted by: Pam Baumeister | January 03, 2011 at 05:38 PM
Bob's tumor has all but disappeared replaced now with one very nasty scare and a very red neck. Chemo and radiation have punched the life out of him but they have kept him alive. We are on the road to recovery. And our daughter awaits word to hear about her application to a nurse practitioner program. She spent the Christmas holidays working in a makeshift clinic in Cambodia deworming, delousing small children and supplying them with plenty of laughter.
Posted by: Bonnie White | January 03, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Hurray for modern medicine. I would probably either be childless or not have lived through childbirth without it. Because of expert care at Boston Children's Hospital, our Grace was treated for and is living with a heart defect, and you'd never guess by looking at her today. Everyday I am thankful for where we live and for the gift of life.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 05, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Because of modern day medicine I have two beautiful children. And I may be able to have more. 35 years ago I would not have had this luxury.
Posted by: Kristy Williams | January 11, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Because of modern day medicine, I can hear music,laughter and and the sound of dead quietness.
Posted by: Rich | March 05, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Hi Whitney,
I am a new reader of your blog. Came across it when I Googled "We live to dream" for our office newsletter. I'm happily playing catch-up :)
Modern-day medicine has given my second child a new lease of life. She was severely anemic at 9 months old and we would have lost her if she did not have fresh infusion of healthy oxigenated blood. She's 16 now and healthy as a horse!
My youngest, soon-to-be 9 year old, is able to use rectal function thanks to the PSARP operation performed on him when he was a baby.
And very recently, my husband was diagnosed with SVT and would have left us forever if modern-day medicine was not administered on him to lower his heart rate.
Posted by: Jocelyn Viernes | March 06, 2012 at 10:57 PM