Haunting connotations

This morning upon arriving at the hospital, I was reminded of the several times when exiting the building at the end of the day, my timing has been such that I have seen a Survival Flight helicopter landing on the adjacent landing pads, and have invariably found it eerie to realize that I first arrived at University Hospital by this very same portal, while comatose, on that long-ago day of May 22, 1993.

Ongoing battle

Though I like to think of myself as a runner, I've been unable to run since Dec. 6 due to back problems. At first (Jan./Feb.) I tried sessions with Ann Arbor Therapeutic Massage, and they did nothing for me. Then (March) I had numerous sessions with Probility Physical Therapy, who had helped me with a similar issue in 2010 (so I was quite hopeful), but that went nowhere either. Now, during April and May, I've been seeing a chiropractor three times a week, but the improvement (though I'm trying hard to keep an open mind and do all the stretches and exercises he prescribes) has been very minimal. Yesterday he told me I was very challenging, and when I asked, "WHY?" he replied with a smile that if he knew why, then I wouldn't pose such a challenge. And to complicate things, in the last couple of weeks I've been dealing with pain and weakness in my left knee and the muscles surrounding it. Oh well ... it's in God's hands, and I know that He will bring me through it and out of it in His time.

A joyous day!

Our niece and goddaughter, Lauren Rabey, turned 9 this week. So we went up to her home today for her party, and then just before leaving we got this nice picture with Lauren and her brother Grant, who turns 6 next month. Shortly before that picture was taken, we got another, with me holding Grant while wearing Lauren's apron, which she had begged me to put on.

Work situation evolving

Since I hired on as a 'temporary' employee at University Hospital last July, I asked my supervisor for some clarification today, and was told this:

I have been talking with Pathology HR, with my boss, and attending meetings to get a “lay of the land” regarding your employment status. Your temp status is not because the university does not want to pay benefits; our department follows Lean principles, meaning that we are very careful in hiring so that we do not over hire, which is a huge expense to our budget. With so many technology changes happening right now in the pathology department – the new laboratory software starting next spring, voice recognition software gaining use, and pathologists who type their own reports, we are re-evaluating our transcription needs and trying to look into the future.

Another issue that has impacted the pathology department is the opening of the new Mott hospital - all departments have been asked to re-evaluate all staffing – no unauthorized overtime or automatic replacement hires are allowed at this time due to very high increased expenses related to the new hospital without corresponding increased revenues.

Regarding your specific situation as a temporary employee, you cannot work more than 12 months consecutively or you must be let go or hired. Since you have been in the department since July 2011, you will need to take a month off in order to continue employment here since I do not have the authority to hire any new employees at this time. Because you are planning a vacation in July, we may need to extend your time off to comply with university policy.

I do know that we may have a couple of transcription staff retiring this year at some point, so we may have transcription openings in the near future. I will certainly make you aware of any job postings when that time comes.

The next generation

My granddaugter Izzy recently had a big experience. Her dad, Reggie, is an avid longtime skier, and, as such, he wanted to take Izzy this winter (even though she just turned 2 on Feb. 19!) so that she'd pick it up easily and never remember a time when she did not ski. So, they went on Mar. 21, and as you can see from this picture, she loved it! Christy reported, "Izzy clapped all the way down!"

The latest challenge

Starting immediately after my 55th birthday (March 17) my left ear began gradually to plug up, and by late the following week it was becoming tender and affecting my sleep. I had been foolishly trying to "tough it out," thinking I would turn the corner, but on Friday, March 23, things took a decided change for the worse. Although through the morning I was OK, at lunch every time I chewed or swallowed I could feel/hear the ear plug up or close off, and when I returned to my desk to transcribe, I could hear virtually nothing out of that ear. So I contacted my supervisor, and took a quick cab ride to my doctor, where I was able to get in without appointment, and was diagnosed with severe otitis ... a swelling of the ear that had completely closed off the ear tube, blocking the eardrum. The doctor also confirmed that it must be extremely painful, having reached that stage, so I was given prescriptions for a steroid and an antibiotic to address the swelling, and for Vicodin to help ease the pain. As I write on Sunday morning, Mar. 25, things are in an odd state. The medicine is beginning to take effect, but has not fully eased the swelling, so currently my hearing in that ear is popping in and out of existence. I am grateful, though, that progress is occurring.

Fitness changes

I incurred back problems during a Dec. 3 race - an inexplicably tightened QL (quadratus lumborum) muscle in my back that shortened one leg, tilting my pelvis and altering my stide. (The accompanying picture shows how I looked at the end of the race.) Consequently, I have been unable to run since then, and have been disconsolate about this. During January and February I had several session at Ann Arbor Therapeutic Massage, but they didn't work either. However, today I had the first of six scheduled Physical Therapy sessions at Probility, who helped me in 2010 when I had the same problem, and though resumption of running is some ways off yet, already I am encouraged. The two therapists I worked with, Katie and Kristin, seemed to really "get it" in regards to my overall situation, and they provided me with some helpful stretches to do. So now I am looking forward to my next session, this Thursday, and hope to be running again, at least slowly, by the beginning of April.

Being a grandfather

I feel so fortunate to be Isabelle Grace Loewen's grandfather (they almost invariably call her "Izzy" now) ... but, at the same time, a bit sad to be separated by so many miles. Izzy and her parents live in Colorado, and Michelle and I in Michigan. Izzy's mother Christy sometimes calls her "Busybelle," which is amusing, but reminds me of how busy Christy herself was at that age. (Izzy just turned 2 on Feb. 19.) This late February photo of her displays her big blue eyes, which transport me instantly back to Christy at that age.

Transcription vs. music

I enjoy my 'new' line of work, and am more grateful than I can express for God's having led me to it. Still, though, having had since the age of 16 the goal of earning my doctorate in choral conducting and then teaching in college, and having achieved that, it is difficult, and painful, to have that world forever stripped away from me now due to the consequences of my accident. Yet I know, too, that God has provided me with abilities to succeed in my new world ... flying fingers, a good ear, and a lifelong inclination toward and skill with words ... so I need now to focus my efforts on attempting to become the best transcriptionist I can possibly be. It requires, also, somewhat of a mental makeover - to stop thinking of myself primarily as a musician (the way I have nearly all my life), and to begin to think of myself primarily as a medical transcriptionist.

Work

It had been my goal since the age of 16 to become a college choir director. Having achieved that, it was very dismaying to have to leave it behind. But, since the damage from my 1993 accident made it impossible for me to teach any longer, I went through lengthy training to become a medical transcriptionist, and began my first full-time employment since 1993 last July, at University Hospital here in Ann Arbor. I worked for the rest of 2011 typing consults for the Pathology faculty, and enjoyed it greatly. (Several previous posts deal with this.) Then, however, on January 24 of this year they moved me to a new space down the hall (Surgical Pathology), where I am now handling new responsibilities. Specimens from surgery are sent to the adjacent Histology lab (histology is the study of the microscopic study of tissues), where the histotechnicians study them, dictate their findings, and then we transcriptionists type them as (as "History and Gross" reports). I miss doing the consults, as it was congenial work and I really became good friends with my colleagues there - the Pathology faculty, and my fellow transcriptionists (administrative assistants). But I enjoy the new work, too, having again wonderful colleagues (including my cubicle neighbor who has been mentoring me, Mary Soucie) ... and above all, am just grateful to still have a job (in this economy, and considering the journey I've been through).

A new venture

A few years ago, I began writing a memoir ... but I didn't get very far with it at all, and most of the time since then it has sat in cyber-suspension, untouched. However, a few weeks back I decided to pick it up and see if I could steer it into the harbor. Also, though originally I had just intended to self-publish a few copies for family, as I mused on it the possibility occurred to me that my story might be compelling enough to interest a publisher - so I'm in the process of exploring that option.