Thursday, December 06, 2007

416-756-6000


Is that my telephone number?

No. It's the number of North York General Hospital.



For the past 18 months or so I've had a very close relationship with that phone number. If it shows up on our phone display without my expecting it to, my stomach clenches and I prepare myself for the caller and the news on the other end.

Earlier this year I would ask people to daven for my father, who was in hospital.
Early last year I would ask people to daven for my father, who was in hospital.
I stopped telling people in the blogosphere about my hospital knowledge.
About my knowledge of ambulances and emergency rooms.

I don't even want to say about my knowledge of other city hospitals, other hospital phone numbers over the years.

My father spent nearly 3 weeks in hospital in March 2006.
He was in hospital between December 2006 and March 2007.
He was in hospital for a few days in May 2007.
He was in hospital for 10 days in July 2007, missing his grandson's bar mitzvah and family celebration in the course of events.
He was in hospital for 10 days in August 2007.
He was in and out of emergency about three times over the course of a week a couple of weeks ago.
A few days later he was back in emergency and was admitted.
He was in hospital for a week.
He came home on a Friday afternoon.
He was back in emergency on the Monday. He was admitted on Tuesday.
My father is in hospital once again.

We have to find some humor in all of this. Someone I'd met in the emergency room in March 2006 asked if my dad was a "frequent flier" at the hospital. Not too long ago I told someone that with all my father's accumulated "airmiles" at the hospital, he could've already travelled around the world and back.

Maintain your health, be thankful if it's good, enjoy your families and friends...and be extra-nice to doctors and nurses.

I hope none of you have to know hospital phone numbers off the top of your head!

My father's name is Yaakov Arieh ben Chaya Malka.

A little bit of davening on his behalf might just be the medicine he needs.

Thank you.

14 comments:

Sarah Likes Green said...

i used to know the hospital phone number :(


refuah sheleimah to your father.

happy chanukah

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Will do, my dear Pearl...Will Do!
I came by to wish you a very Happy Chanukah, but I see it may not be as happy as one would want!
I am so sorry about that, my dear....!
My thoughts and my prayers are with you and with your dear fathet.

A Simple Jew said...

Yaakov Arieh ben Chaya Malka is in my prayers. May he have a refuah shleima!

Elie said...

So sorry Pearl. I know how difficult this must be, especially on Chanukah. A refuas hanefesh vihaguf to your dad!

PsychoToddler said...

Around here, if a person gets admitted often enough they name a wing after him.

I wish a refuah shelaimo to your father. Freilichen Channukah.

Unknown said...

Pearl- I will ask Marty to add your Dad's name to his misheberach list and I will also daven for him. I used to have Sunnybrook's # memorized- now I just have it on speed dial. I also had three extensions at Baycrest memorized. Over the summer when my Mom had heart surgery, I had NY Hospital's number and the CCU extension memorized. I've found that as our parents get older, this often becomes necessary. I hope your Dad recovers soon and is able to return home. Chag Sameach and, again, may he have a speedy refuah!

cruisin-mom said...

Oh Pearl...you and your family have been through so much....my thoughts are with you.

Batya said...

Refuah Shleimah, and don't forget that you need your health to care for him, so take care of yourself!

Lion of Zion said...

"with all my father's accumulated "airmiles" at the hospital, he could've already travelled around the world and back."

i hope he has a speedy and complete refu'ah . . . and that he gets to take that trip around the world

orieyenta said...

Oh Pearl - I just saw this because I have been off the computer for a few days. We will continue to keep your Dad (and YOU) in our prayers.

Shira Salamone said...

Oy. Your father's been on my misbererach list for far too long. I certainly hope he gets well soon.

I second Muse--be sure to take care of your *own* health, too.

torontopearl said...

Thank you, all, for your warm sentiments and davening for my father. G-d willing he will be released tomorrow from hospital -- able to return home and stay there for a long while without knowing of hospitals again anytime soon.

I knew as I wrote this post and hoped against hope that any of you would have to know of hospital phone numbers too closely, that there are readers of mine out there who DO know, who KNEW hospital numbers. I'm sorry for those difficult and terribly challenging times that you endured...and still continue to endure as a result of that personal knowledge of hospitals.

May we all be blessed to just know from simchas, and live happy and healthy lives with our families and friends.

RaggedyMom said...

I'm hoping things go well, and wishing you a lichtige last day of Chanukah.

Unknown said...

What wonderful news Pearl! G-d willing may his stay at home (ie: out of the hospital!) be long and healthy!