My Village Chief is HOH, Part III of III
My Village Chief is HOH, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: My village chief sprinted into a parent’s hospital room wearing shorts, sandals (no socks), and a NCAA basketball T-shirt, Saturday morning.
He was all business, dressed casually. When he spoke his first two sentences, I knew. I listened and focused on the voice I know well.
When he turned his head, I saw the aid. Then, I saw the second hearing aid. …
Part II: He paused, “Can any court reporter do that?” pointing to flawless live captions.
I ducked my head, thinking … thinking. He leaned in to hear my answer.
“May I ask you something first?” I asked softly.
He nodded. Slowly, I asked, “Can any GP, general practicioner, any doctor, do what you just did?”
The doctor looked puzzled.
I asked, “Can any doctor go into an organ, one bleeding for months from cancer radiation not knowing what the doctor will find, eliminate multiple blood clots, clean the organ, and assist the patient – all in realtime – as you just did?”
He shot back in his chair, “No!”
I leaned into my village chief, “That’s my answer to you.” …
Part III: A nurse ran into the room with a phone. She said slowly, loudly, “HERE! When it rings, you answer, okay? The cardiologist will phone, okay!?”
My village chief paused before he looked away. I saw it.
Everyone could hear that nurse.
When the phone rang in my village chief’s hand, the nurse loudly said, “It’s ringing!!” He looked to the floor and said nothing before he placed that phone to his ear.
Soon, he departed without looking back, “We have to do this before this patient leaves Recovery. We only have minutes.” I thanked his back as he exited. Yes, he heard me.
A cardiologist appeared.
Soon, I answered my parent’s questions, and chose not to volunteer details while anesthesia and specialists were flowing in and nearby – all in realtime.
Then I drove to the one parent, recuperating after 57 days in hospitals now able to sit up.
I left out “Really bad. Could die …”
I focused on, “The doctors are wonderful.”
I checked meds, fed my parent, took out the trash, drove home.
That night a package arrived. (I receive a JCR, Journal of Court Reporting, for my library due to this column.) I was surprised to see the March 2010 JCR, not a current edition.
The cover detailed court reporters reporting veterans’ stories. My column that month was “A Number Of Firsts” profiling Karen Sadler, Ph.D., self-described “severely hard of hearing,” and Karen’s path to doctoral studies.
The next day I took the NCRA JCR, within envelope (to avoid others seeing my magazine), and waited for my village chief.
In IM-ICU I said, “I think this is a sign that I’m supposed to give this to you. I circled HOH and veterans articles you might enjoy.”
The proud WW II vet said, “I have multiple surgeries, and I’m helping doctors tonight. I’ll read this before I go to bed. Promise!”
He patted my arm; my JCR was tucked under his left elbow. Then, he ran down the hall to his next surgery.
We see each other often now with two parents hospitalized for seven-plus months.
Recently, a parent was re-admitted through ER, then moved to the surgical floor.
Married 57 years, my parents were 500 feet apart before an ambulance transported one parent to another hospital without letting them see each other.
When I see my chief, I call to his back (he hears), “Hey, Village Chief!”
He always turns around, “Hi! I have a patient …”
I smile, “I know. You have a patient waiting in surgery.” “Yes,” then sprints off.
When he has a moment, I share a hug.
Privately, I share events that baffle me.
“There’s too much blood – on the floor, the patient, in a cup on a shelf, in the cath; the patient does not know where the door is. Still the hospital is working to discharge this ICU patient today.”
He listens, sharing private opinions. Private opinions.
The hospital did discharge the patient hours later. I insisted that my concerned “are charted” for this patient.
The patient, my parent, was readmitted approximately 7 hours later with a 103 degree fever.
The ER staff was adamant that the hospital never should have discharged this patient, and the patient would have died that night if the patient had not returned to the ER.
I immediately requested my village chief.
He stepped back in, again this man saved my parent’s life – again – and I am listening to this wise doctor who has a passion for his work – again.
My village chief is hard of hearing, and I would have it no other way. He has saved my parent’s life so many times I have lost count.
This is perfect in my world right now.
And now I thank each of you, court reporters, broadcast captioners and CART providers for all that you do to help others – to include my village chief. Thank you, mon amis.
Part I of III is posted September 2, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted September 12, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted September 23, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
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Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
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About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
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