I was really thinking hard if I wanted to post the following message or not, but here goes. I am the type of person that if I see someone in need, I will sometimes make it my businesses to intervene. I will often stop at a coffee shop not far from my house to have a cup of java and maybe see someone I know that will sit with me and have a conversation with.
I have seen this fellow in the shop on and off several times the past year, so I asked the waitress about him and she told me that he works there during the overnight hours. As he was sitting at the table some 10 feet away, I saw him continuously rubbing his right leg. I guess he caught me staring at him and he told me that his leg was killing him. I asked him what was the problem and he said that it’s swollen. I asked him if I could see it and he told me that he was warning me that it’s not pretty to look at. I told him not to worry, I saw a man in Vietnam have his head blown off. With that, he raised his pant leg and I noticed his leg being about twice it’s size, very red with very small red blisters.
I told him that he needed to get to a walk-in clinic or to the E-room at the hospital. I also told him that I thought it could be infected. Then, I asked him if he had diabetes and he said that he did. I asked him if he needed a ride to the hospital and he refused and told me that he would call his doctor. Then, he got up and left the shop. After he was out the door, the waitress told me that he was basically homeless. She said that he lives with his brother who only allows him into the house when he “feels like it.”
That statement pissed me off. I hustled out the door and into my car and found him walking down a very busy major highway. I talked him to get into my car and took him to the hospital. I sat there with him for 2 1/2 hours while the doctor did some testing. Luckily the doctor remembered me from my working years and gave us a little expeditious treatment. Finally, the doctor came back into the room and told John (the patient) that he probably should be dead. They told him that his foot and leg are severely infected and that gangrene has begun. Needless to say, they admitted him. I also told them about his living arrangements and they told me that they would contact Social Services and make sure that he is properly and humanly treated.
With that done, I left. Do you think that I should continue to watch over him, or have I done my job? I wrestle with this. Maybe just check back in a few days or a week and make sure he has secured suitable living arrangements? I don’t know. You know how it is. Sometimes when you involve yourself, you kind of feel responsible, or at least, I do.
I have seen this fellow in the shop on and off several times the past year, so I asked the waitress about him and she told me that he works there during the overnight hours. As he was sitting at the table some 10 feet away, I saw him continuously rubbing his right leg. I guess he caught me staring at him and he told me that his leg was killing him. I asked him what was the problem and he said that it’s swollen. I asked him if I could see it and he told me that he was warning me that it’s not pretty to look at. I told him not to worry, I saw a man in Vietnam have his head blown off. With that, he raised his pant leg and I noticed his leg being about twice it’s size, very red with very small red blisters.
I told him that he needed to get to a walk-in clinic or to the E-room at the hospital. I also told him that I thought it could be infected. Then, I asked him if he had diabetes and he said that he did. I asked him if he needed a ride to the hospital and he refused and told me that he would call his doctor. Then, he got up and left the shop. After he was out the door, the waitress told me that he was basically homeless. She said that he lives with his brother who only allows him into the house when he “feels like it.”
That statement pissed me off. I hustled out the door and into my car and found him walking down a very busy major highway. I talked him to get into my car and took him to the hospital. I sat there with him for 2 1/2 hours while the doctor did some testing. Luckily the doctor remembered me from my working years and gave us a little expeditious treatment. Finally, the doctor came back into the room and told John (the patient) that he probably should be dead. They told him that his foot and leg are severely infected and that gangrene has begun. Needless to say, they admitted him. I also told them about his living arrangements and they told me that they would contact Social Services and make sure that he is properly and humanly treated.
With that done, I left. Do you think that I should continue to watch over him, or have I done my job? I wrestle with this. Maybe just check back in a few days or a week and make sure he has secured suitable living arrangements? I don’t know. You know how it is. Sometimes when you involve yourself, you kind of feel responsible, or at least, I do.
