Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Different Perspective

      As I finished rounds in maternity on Sunday, the midwife mentioned a new transfer patient from a local clinic had just arrived.  Transfer patients are usually assessed by the physician on-call because they are often high risk or in need of an intervention.  The reason our most recent patient was transferred?  According to the chart she was an “elderly female, primip with precious baby.”  And what age makes a person elderly?  33!  I laughed as I told the midwife I was sure she could take excellent care of the patient and to call me if there were any questions or problems.
  
      The next morning during rounds I asked if our "elderly" patient had delivered--apparently not yet--and then said; "I don't really think 33 is old," to which the midwife spun around, looked at me wide-eyed and exclaimed, "you don't?!"  I learned something new that day: I am elderly.  Ah, only in Africa...right? :)


(Good news--she delivered a healthy baby without complications.)

“Age is not important--unless you’re a cheese.”
--Unknown

3 comments:

  1. ...so what does that make Ann-Brit and Lorraine? Super human, probably.

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  2. Seriously!?! I hope 33 is only elderly in Africa, or I'm in trouble! ;)

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