Friday Flash 55 -- Dr. Smrt makes a housecall

Lauran thought she called 911 . . .
Because her ears were ringing she didn’t notice that someone answered: “Your number’s up."

“I’m alone!" she slurred. "Cannot move my right side…think I had a stroke." Panting shallowly, she strained to give directions.

"No problem, dear. We know your address. Dr. Smrt is driving up your road right now."

MLydiaM ~ October 2011

Note: In the Czech language, the word for death is smrt.

Image: Untitled (sunset with quarter moon and farmhouse)  Edward Mitchell Bannister

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When reading this most of us would commonly envision an older woman as the victim. I learned that strokes happen in healthy, young people when a friend and former co-worker had a stroke in her 30s. She was a long-distance bicyclist in top, trained shape...the last person any of us would have expected to experience such an ordeal. She was single and did indeed live alone. When she woke up and realized something was wrong she called 911. The operator asked if she could make it to her front door to open it for the EMTs, not an absolute necessity because they could come in through windows or even break down the door. My friend dragged herself on the floor from her bedroom to the door and was waiting for them when they arrived. She underwent intense speech and physical therapy afterward and returned to work later, albeit in a less demanding position.

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