Not Being A Cry-Baby

(My sister is 26, but looks much younger, and is pregnant and quickly approaching her due date. She’s married, but her husband travels a lot for work, is away, and won’t be home until the week before the baby is due. In light of this, I’ve been staying with her so she’s not on her own. A few days before her husband is due home she begins experiencing extreme pain, and I drive her to the emergency room.)

Nurse #1: “Take a seat. Someone will be with you soon.”

(We sit, and after a few minutes, my sister is in tears, and worried for the baby. I go and update the nurse on her condition, only to be dismissed.)

Nurse #1: “She’s fine. We’ll get to you when we can.”

Me: “I understand you’re busy, but my sister is really worried about the baby. Is there any chance it could be in danger? Could we please have someone come and examine her?”

Nurse #1: “I’m a nurse. I know what I’m talking about. Go and sit down.”

(I go, and after another half hour, go and speak to the nurse again.)

Nurse #1: “Sit down. Someone will see you when they can. I know you two are used to getting whatever you want, but this is the emergency room. Unless it’s an emergency, you don’t get special treatment.”

(I’m pretty furious at this point, but I hear my sister cry out in pain, so rush back to her side while the nurse rolls her eyes. An hour later, another nurse enters the emergency room, and sees my sister.)

Nurse #2: “Oh, my god, has this girl been seen yet?”

Nurse #1: “I haven’t had time to put her paperwork through, I’m sure she’s fine.”

Me: “We’ve been here for an hour and a half. Please! Something could be wrong with the baby.”

Nurse #2: “She’s been here for an hour and a half and you still don’t have her paperwork done? It takes five minutes, max! Come on, sweetie, let’s get you looked at.”

(Nurse #2 and I help my sister to her feet, and help her move out of the emergency room, while Nurse #1 follows still insisting my sister is fine.)

Nurse #2: “She’s just some uppity teenager who’s too dumb not to get pregnant. Now she’s using her stupid mistakes to make herself the centre of attention.”

Me: “Not that it matters, but she’s 26! You would know that if you had actually looked at the paperwork you made us fill out!”