Roommate (Rose, her name on here) is still in Tampa General Hospital. We live in the Orlando area, so she’s almost two hours away. It’s put a monkey wrench into our bill paying. She was taken via an ambulance last Tuesday to South Seminole Hospital because of horrendous kidney pain. Almost assuredly it was related to the six hour surgery she had at TGH a week prior. She had her bladder removed and replaced.

The closest urologist to Orlando who does these surgeries was in TGH, which is part of USF Health (University of South Florida, my alma mater). I’m embarrassed to say that the hospital did not treat her right. They discharged her last Tuesday and put her into a Lyft to bring her to Orlando because she had no ride, because we anticipated she’d be discharged on my day off—last Thursday. The hospital paid for her Lyft, but the nurse in charge of coordinating it was extremely rude about it.

Since she was taken from our home via ambulance a bit after midnight last Wednesday, she had her nightgown. That’s it. No phone. No wallet. No ID. No laptop. Nothing.

Hopefully, they will spring her on Wednesday (I had a doctor’s appointment I had to cancel), or Thursday. I have off both those days.

Thankfully, each room has its own private phone, so I was able to track down that number. She couldn’t even give anyone my number because, hey, isn’t that info IN YOUR PHONE?

So, she’s sounded better each day I’ve spoken to her. They did indeed find an infection in her kidneys. And, so far, she only knows they will discharge her sometime this week,

I’m pissed that this all could have been avoided if they would have kept her at least a day longer in the first place. Healthcare in the US is totally ridiculous.

I’m also dealing with money shortages; everything will be paid late, including my health insurance. That makes me nervous. If it gets canceled, none of my current doctors are going to give me pro bono services.

I’m also still processing the surreal experience I had on June 15th. My head is still spinning and my heart is still hurting, and my cognitive brain is confused and stunned. Suffice it to say that now 6/15 is not one of my favorite dates.

I’m not ready to share any details. Don’t know if I ever want to. One person owes me a huge explanation and apology, but I’m sure I won’t get one.

Thus, I’m floating around in a huge cloud of numbness. I had some extremely scary thoughts on Friday (I think; I’m also having trouble keeping my days straight). It was over a bill, mostly. I just s decided to try and move forward and not give a fuck. But, I am glad Rose (not her real name) is feeling better. I’m going to call her later.

Tomorrow is a holiday (don’t give a crap)—July 4th. To many women in the US, it feels as though we have less independence than we did last week. Fuck the Supreme Court, too. I’m working tomorrow anyway. At least we get paid time and a half. My shift is 9-4, or 9-4:40.

I’ll be working on some things. You all take care.