Recently, I had a scary health issue that sent me to the hospital. Shortly after arrival, alone—my husband had to care for our children—I became paralyzed in my hands. I felt it happening, and went to alert the desk that my condition was worsening. Unfortunately, this didn’t hasten my treatment and I continued to worsen, sitting in the waiting room for a few hour longer. My hands, so strong, so capable, the hands so many rely on, gradually turned into claws. It was just the beginning of my ordeal, unfortunately.
In the end, I was paralyzed for 10 hours. After spending a lifetime being the person others relied on, to literally have my hands tied, so to speak, was terrifying and excruciating. Not to mention the actual pain I was in...psychologically, it was brutal. I was humiliatingly dependent on others. I could not do anything for myself. This included needing assistance in the bathroom, an embarrassing and difficult affair. I was at the mercy of the hospital staff, and they were brusque, at best.